FDI Business Monitor Issue 1 2025

In the Irish economy broadly, growth remains robust despite a more challenging global outlook. Consumer spending and domestic investment will have increased by 2.5% and 6.7% respectively in 2024 and much of that momentum should carry through to 2025. Ibec forecasts consumer spending growth of 3.1% for 2025 and 2.8% for 2026. This is part of a newly-published suite of forecasts covering a range of indicators, including investment, GDP, inflation and employment. For more, see the latest edition of the Ibec Economic Outlook.

The Programme for Government’s recognition of the agrifood sector as an area of competitive advantage for Ireland is to be welcomed. It is vital that this strength is not taken for granted – the the competitiveness of the food sector must be proactively safeguarded. Food Drink Ireland will advocate strongly for outcomes that support the sector as the Programme for Government commitments are fleshed out in more detail, in particular the development of an Action Plan for Competitiveness, the identification of regulations that are unnecessary or overly burdensome, and the drafting of successor strategies to Food Vision 2030 and the Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025.