The President of Ennis Chamber insists the focus needs to be outside of foreign direct investment to develop the county town.
It comes as new IDA figures reveal that just 13 site visits from potential investors took place across Clare last year – the lowest figure since 2015.
But Shannon Chamber says the level of development being seen there is benefiting the entire county.
Last year’s 13 sites visits from potential investors to Clare is a reduction on the 22 from the year previous.
And while the number of visits nationally also fell, the rate of reduction in Clare is the highest nationally.
Dublin still dominates in terms of larger investment from overseas firms, accounting for 44% of all IDA site visits last year.
Despite this, Shannon Chamber’s Chief Executive Helen Downes says there’s still plenty of investment in the Shannon Free Zone which is having a ripple effect.
In the county town, meanwhile, the concern is that major investors will overlook Ennis given its proximity to Shannon, Galway and Limerick.
However, Ennis Chamber president Diarmuid McMahon still feels there is still plenty of opportunity for employers to set up smaller firms there.
He says it’s crucial that the right infrastructure is put in place.
