Bomb Overshadows NI Investment Bid

The PM was on hand yesterday to hear what a great place NI is for investors.

However, news of a border city bomb attack overnight may dampen the enthusiasm of some of those attending the London conference, which heard Stormont Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster reinforce the view that NI remains as a strong proposition to potential investors.

The Minister was attending yesterday's Global Investment Conference in London, a gathering of some 240 Chief Executive level business representatives from the UK and overseas.

The conference, which was opened by Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, (pictured) addressed the current and future challenges to global investment and sought to promote the investment opportunities across the UK.

The Minister also undertook a number of meetings and engagements, in London, to reinforce Northern Ireland's investment potential.

Speaking after the conference, Minister Foster said: "At a time when the global competition for mobile investment is greater than ever, it was important that I was here today to reinforce the very clear message that Northern Ireland has a strong proposition to potential investors.

"In comparative terms, Northern Ireland has consistently performed better than many other UK regions. Recent investments, such as those secured from NYSE Euronext and Seagate Technologies demonstrate that we can meet the needs of the most advanced sectors."

The Minister, along with Invest Northern Ireland, also held private meetings with a small number of Chief Executives, from organisations identified as prospective investors, to outline in detail Northern Ireland’s investment proposition.

On a bid to maximise local business and tourism opportunities from the 2012 Olympics, the Minister also met with Lord Sebastian Coe in London, and said it was vital Northern Ireland businesses got a fair deal from the 2012 Olympics.

"I have serious concern that, although hundreds of Northern Ireland companies have registered for Olympic works, very few companies have successfully won contracts. I am aware of similar concerns in Scotland, Wales and North-East England," she said.

Emphasising the importance of making the most of the current opportunities the Minister continued: "The Olympics present a valuable opportunity for local businesses. As building progresses on the main Olympic venues, the focus of procurement will shift from construction to the goods, works and services required to stage and implement the Games."

See: Newry Car Bomb Condemned

(NS/BMcC)