Innovation has always been part of Shannon’s heritage. It was created over 70 years ago as Europe’s transatlantic gateway airport, and since then has been the home of the world’s first Duty Free shop, the  first Free Zone, and the pioneer aircraft leasing company GPA.

Shannon Group is 100% owned by the Irish State. Shannon Group owns Shannon Airport (Ireland’s second long-haul airport), Shannon Commercial Properties, and Shannon Heritage.  Shannon Commercial Properties is a successful infrastructure and commercial real-estate developer and one of the largest commercial landowners in Ireland: its assets include the Shannon Free Zone business and industry park, which is also the home of the International Aviation Services Centre, Ireland’s largest aerospace and aviation cluster with over 60 companies.

Shannon Group plc is an ambitious commercially-focused company with a strong asset base, now seeking to work with collaboration partners to capitalise on its development potential.

Shannon particularly values its relationship with China. In 1980, Jiang Zemin visited Shannon Free Zone as an inspiration for the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone. Since then Shannon has received visits from many senior Chinese leaders (Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, etc.). Most recently, Hu Chunhua visited in 2017 and said, “Shannon is at the tip of the Belt and Road.”

Shannon is therefore actively intensifying its efforts to identify opportunities to develop strategic business partnerships with China which can bring mutual benefit.