Chinese Business man promises 8000 jobs for athlone

MrMatisse · 30-06-2010 07:15PM #1

WTF?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jun/25/china-investment-ireland-eurozone

The Athlone project, which has yet to gain planning approval, involves shipping 2,000 Chinese workers to build a "Chinese hub" of factories on a 600-acre stretch of land outside the County Westmeath town that will eventually employ 8,000 Irish staff

CreepingDeath · 30-06-2010 07:17PM

That's a big takeaway

orourkeda · 30-06-2010 07:18PM

CreepingDeath wrote: »

That's a big takeaway

Thats a lot of chicken balls to get through alright

Gunsfortoys · 30-06-2010 07:19PM

My money is on them not getting planning permission, some Japanese firm probably has a takeaway there.

Superbus · 30-06-2010 07:20PM

Conquering Europe?

What's the Chinese equivalent of 'SHÍT'!?

Morlar · 30-06-2010 07:22PM

Why do they need to ship 2000 chineese workers here to build it ? We have countless architects and assorted construction workers with no work right here.

My name is URL · 30-06-2010 07:23PM

Could be great for the country. Ireland has put a lot of effort in to enticing investment and solidifying relations with China

http://www.irelandexpo2010.com/

Royal Irish · 30-06-2010 07:25PM

Morlar wrote: »

Why do they need to ship 2000 chineese workers here to build it ? We have countless architects and assorted construction workers with no work right here.

Because the ones we have here are overpaid morons.

Pighead · 30-06-2010 07:27PM

Never trust the yellow man.
http://southdakotapolitics.blogs.com/south_dakota_politics/images/2008/05/21/monorail.gif

Morlar · 30-06-2010 07:30PM

Royal Irish wrote: »

Because the ones we have here are overpaid morons.

There is not a single job in Ireland - including yours - that chineese people imported from china would not do for a lot less money.

thebullkf · 30-06-2010 07:32PM

Morlar wrote: »

Why do they need to ship 2000 chineese workers here to build it ? We have countless architects and assorted construction workers with no work right here.

that statement was just wong.

LookingFor · 30-06-2010 07:54PM

Interesting. I thought we weren't remotely competitive for this kind of job - or so we've been told - yet apparently low tax and free access to the EU trumps higher wages.

On the other hand, I'm not sure how this tallies with talk of upskilling for a new post-manufacturing economy.

admiralofthefleet · 30-06-2010 07:56PM

great news

30-06-2010 07:57PM

Chinese - Great bunch of lads.

LookingFor · 30-06-2010 07:59PM

Also, what's the Chinese for 'dey tuk er jerbs!!1'?

Doyler92 · 30-06-2010 08:06PM

LookingFor wrote: »

Also, what's the Chinese for 'dey tuk er jerbs!!1'?

Don't think this counts here TBH as it's gonna take 2000 chinese to build it but provide jobs for 6000 irish.

Bob the Seducer · 30-06-2010 08:07PM

LookingFor wrote: »

Also, what's the Chinese for 'dey tuk er jerbs!!1'?

Just in case, it's probably something like
他們偷走了我們的工作

* may not be accurate translation

starbelgrade · 30-06-2010 08:12PM

As soon as next month a group of Chinese manufacturers hope to get the green light to develop a €50m (£40m) plot in Athlone, central Ireland and begin transforming it into what local papers have dubbed Beijing-on-Shannon.

Demolish Athlone & rebuild it as a Chinatown? F*cking excellent idea.

PirateShampoo · 30-06-2010 08:13PM

Sounds more like a People trafficking scam to me.

LookingFor · 30-06-2010 08:16PM

Doyler92 wrote: »

Don't think this counts here TBH as it's gonna take 2000 chinese to build it but provide jobs for 6000 irish.

Well, they say 8000 irish, so I assume 10000 total. Also, that's 8000 jobs that aren't for Chinese people.

...

Dey tuk er jerbs!! :P

mikom · 30-06-2010 08:16PM

I can see this taking looong time.

freeze4real · 30-06-2010 08:17PM

i hope they get the planning permission.
8000 jobs thats awesome.

Bob the Seducer · 30-06-2010 08:21PM

I for one welcome our new Chinese overlords and hope they have a pleasant stay in Athlone New Shanghai!

Iwasfrozen · 30-06-2010 08:21PM

Bob the Seducer wrote: »

Just in case, it's probably something like
他們偷走了我們的工作

* may not be accurate translation

Which romanised is "Tāmen tōu zǒu liǎo wǒmen de gōngzuò"*.

*may not be accurate translation

Abrasax · 30-06-2010 08:24PM

I've seen this in poor countries, esp. Africa, the Chinese coming in, starting building or engineering projects,fostering good relations, doing what the IMF et al say they're going to do but the Chinese actually do it.

But what I don't get here is why are they building manufacturing plants here? Are they just making the buildings or are they going to manufacture here also? Surely they can manufacture stuff in China for a fraction of the cost?

starbelgrade · 30-06-2010 08:25PM

I bet that they're over here to build a new house for that couple in Navan.

LookingFor · 30-06-2010 08:28PM

Abrasax wrote: »

But what I don't get here is why are they building manufacturing plants here? Are they just making the buildings or are they going to manufacture here also? Surely they can manufacture stuff in China for a fraction of the cost?

Per the Guardian article, here they would enjoy low tax and free access to the EU. Currently exporting to the EU from China incurs tarrifs and duties etc.

I presume they've done the math and it works out for them. Or, at least, they're willing to try it out as an experiment.

They'll probably also get grants and stuff from the government. Wave 8000 jobs in front the government during hard times and I'm sure you get treated nicely...these Chinese folks know that, and they'll lean on that.

MagicMarker · 30-06-2010 08:35PM

I heard about this on newstalk the other week. The lady who owns the land (i think it was her) said that part of the deal is that all employees working there would be Chinese, so I'm not sure where that article is getting ''8000 irish staff'' from?

How exactly would Europe's Chinatown work if it was run by Irish people? Doesn't make a lot of sense really.

starbelgrade · 30-06-2010 08:36PM

MagicMarker wrote: »

I heard about this on newstalk the other week. The lady who owns the land (i think it was her) said that part of the deal is that all employees working there would be Chinese, so I'm not sure where that article is getting ''8000 irish staff'' from?

How exactly would Europe's Chinatown work if it was run by Irish people? Doesn't make a lot of sense really.

Is that what they call an equal opportunities employer?

mikom · 30-06-2010 08:41PM

MagicMarker wrote: »

part of the deal is that all employees working there would be Chinese,

Sales of sellotape are going to rocket amongst the Irish.

My name is URL · 30-06-2010 08:43PM

MagicMarker wrote: »

I heard about this on newstalk the other week. The lady who owns the land (i think it was her) said that part of the deal is that all employees working there would be Chinese, so I'm not sure where that article is getting ''8000 irish staff'' from?

I can't see that being true tbh. But even if it was, it would mean 8000 people employed, and that means employment for others outside of the development

Chinese Business man promises 8000 jobs for athlone

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