A NEW Northern consultative body comprising entrepreneurs, bankers, trade unions and members of the community and voluntary sectors is to meet for the first time next month.

The First Minister and Deputy First Minister are due to confirm the membership of their recently announced Cross-Sectoral Advisory Forum shortly.

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness hope the forum will advise on economic policy, particularly in relation to the Executive’s handling of the economic downturn. Mr Robinson has said the Northern economy is better positioned to weather the gathering financial storm than any of the “surrounding economies”.

The Irish Times understands the new committee will comprise four representatives from the banking sector, two from construction and a further two from the wider business community.

Two members from the trade union movement will also be asked to attend, as will a representative each from the energy regulator’s office, the main energy companies as well as the Consumer Council.

There will be a children’s representative and an older persons’ representative, nominees from local government as well as from the plethora of community organisations and charities.

The principal farming organisations and the Federation of Small Business will also be represented, and both the First Minister and Deputy First Minister will appoint two persons of their choosing.

Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness have also revealed details of their 10-day itinerary in the US which begins next week.

They will meet President Barack Obama at the White House on St Patrick’s Day, and will also visit the State Department, although a meeting with secretary of state Hillary Clinton has not been confirmed.

The heads of the Stormont Executive will visit the head offices of companies which have already invested in Northern Ireland, while also seeking fresh investment from other concerns. They will travel to Chicago, California and Los Angeles, New York and Washington DC.