Internet giant Amazon is adding hundreds of new jobs to its Irish task-force because of the amazing talent available in Ireland, the company said this week.

Amazon, the largest Internet-based retailer in the U.S. headquartered in Seattle, is creating 500 jobs in Ireland over the next two years to add to the 1,700 already working at locations in Dublin and Cork.

Jeff Caselden, Amazon Ireland’s general manager, claimed the decision to further invest in Ireland was due to the country’s diverse technical skills base and the creative culture.

He said that favorable corporate tax was not the biggest priority when choosing to do business in Ireland.

“First and foremost I would say the access to the talent that we’re able to get in this country. Ireland’s got a very creative culture and we’re also a member of the European Union so there's a large talent pool we can pull from here,” Caselden said.

“Secondly, the infrastructure that we have in the country is very suitable for what we need to do. Connectivity is very important to us.

“The trans-Atlantic cables that connect North America and Europe terminate here in Ireland. There’s good access to renewable energy.”

The announcement was welcomed by Minister of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mary Mitchell O’Connor, who said the jobs were “very high end, well paid.”

She also said the government is on track to create 60,000 jobs this year.