THE SPECIAL US investment conference planned for Belfast next week is attracting encouraging levels of interest despite the global credit crunch, according to Stormont Minister for Industry Nigel Dodds.
Mr Dodds said the May 7th-9th conference, while tightly focused on key sectors, would still be the biggest of its kind. "We started off by trying to attract 30 to 40 senior executives from US corporations operating in those markets we are particularly targeting for investment - business services, financial services. I'm pleased to say that we have over 70 companies saying it's their intention to be here. Over 40 of those companies are visiting for the first time."
With more than 90 senior business figures now hoping to attend, the conference organisers were "well over the numbers we targeted", Mr Dodds said.
The event will commence with a 400-strong reception at Cultra in Co Down hosted by the Minister along with US special envoy to Northern Ireland Paula Dobriansky. The gathering will include business and political representatives as well as input from young people.
The following day will see what Mr Dodds called the "main business of the conference" at the BBC's Blackstaff studio in Belfast where visiting US business figures will hear from existing investors.
"Among those will be Mike Zavirovski, CEO of Nortel, Jim Foster of Citi, John Spangler of Seagate, Brian Goggin who is chief executive of Bank of Ireland, Bill Rohner of Caterpillar, Cathy Brune who is CIO of Allstate Insurance and Stuart McGuigan of Liberty Mutual," he said.
He confirmed that Minister for Education Sir Reg Empey would also take part, outlining to potential investors the levels of skills training and quality of graduates available.
Those attending the conference will also be invited to a function at Stormont hosted by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister which will also be attended by New York's mayor Michael Bloomberg, Sir Anthony O'Reilly and British prime minister Gordon Brown.
The taoiseach-designate, Brian Cowen, will join Mr Brown and the visiting business figures at Hillsborough, Co Down, for an evening reception.
The final day of the event will allow those attending the investment showcase to visit any region of Northern Ireland or to follow up particular inquiries they may have.
"We have a very significant event," Mr Dodds said. "This is the biggest event of its kind, it involves the largest number of senior executives. It gives us a unique opportunity to showcase the province and allows us to put forward the reason why Northern Ireland should be considered as a place to come and invest."
Leslie Morrison, chief executive of Invest NI, the region's economic investment body which is organising the conference, added: "There will be a healthy sprinkling of chief executive officers which is quite impressive." The event has the support of the British and Irish governments, the Stormont Executive and the White House. Sponsorship has come from the Northern Bank and BT.
Mr Dodds denied the difficult international business climate would cause problems for the investment drive.
Taking a medium- to long-term view of the Stormont Executive's investment strategy, he said few people forecast today's problems one year ago when the organisation of the event was begun. "We are not immune from the challenges that are out there," he said. "But the numbers and the quality of the people that are coming still far exceed our expectations."