New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will attend the economic investment conference in Northern Ireland later this year, he confirmed today.
The mayor said he was honoured to be asked to visit by the leaders of the Stormont Executive during their first overseas trip together in December.
First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness met the mayor inside City Hall in New York at the start of their week-long trip to the US.
"The future of Northern Ireland has never been brighter, because the commitment to peace has never been stronger," Mr Bloomberg said today.
"With peace and stability come economic opportunities. This conference will not only give leaders in Northern Ireland an opportunity to showcase their economic potential, it will give us an opportunity to discuss with business leaders in Northern Ireland how New York can offer them investment opportunities they won't find anywhere else.
"I was honoured to be asked to attend, and I look forward to going."
Mr Bloomberg will be accompanied by New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn at the US-Northern Ireland Investment Conference on May 8th.
It will be his first trip to Northern Ireland as mayor and he is expected to speak at the conference, which is also being attended by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.