CO-OPERATIVE COMMITMENT:THE THREE-DAY US-Northern Ireland investment conference, which concludes today, can strengthen economic ties between the US and the North and reaffirm the co-operative commitment to work together for peace, President George Bush told delegates.
Mr Bush, in a televised address to the 120 US investors who attended a seminar in the BBC Blackstaff studios in Belfast yesterday morning, said the US would continue to support the people of Northern Ireland as they take charge of their future.
“We share with you the firm belief that even greater opportunities for co-operation lie ahead,” he said.
Mr Bush, in praising the leadership of the First Minister, the Rev Ian Paisley, and the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, said peace was providing an opportunity for the North to prosper.
“One year ago, Northern Ireland’s elected leaders formed a unified government and made economic growth a top priority,” the president added.
“Free-market policies have been proven effective in economies across the world and Northern Ireland has made it clear that you are open to foreign investment. Americans have recognised the expanding opportunities in Northern Ireland. More than 160 US investors now have businesses in your region and last year 130,000 Americans visited your beautiful land.”
Part of the argument for Northern Ireland as an investment opportunity for US investors is that it provides a gateway to Europe.
The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, also in a televised broadcast, said Europe was “the path to sustainable growth” and “for particular regions like Northern Ireland this is a huge and unmissable opportunity”.
Mr Barroso said Northern Ireland, with its dedicated workforce and international market opportunities, had a great chance to build on positive political momentum. “I am sure that foreign investors already established in Northern Ireland will soon be joined by more,” he said.
The North’s Economy Minister, Nigel Dodds, opened yesterday’s seminar, at which existing international investors told the visiting executives of the advantages of setting up in the North.
“Northern Ireland has come a long way in the past 10 years, economically, socially and politically, as the foundations of a more confident Northern Ireland are being laid,” he said.
Mr Dodds added that in the past 10 years, Northern Ireland had developed a growing reputation for developing software for telecoms, for financial services and business applications and sophisticated financial processing, including funds management.
The Minister thanked existing investors Nortel, Citi, Seagate and Allstate Insurance for sharing their experiences.
“Many of these companies have not only invested, but have subsequently reinvested,” Mr Dodds said. “In business, there is truly nothing better, and no better advocate, than a satisfied customer.”
