Business Job Creation Plan Wins Backing

A proposed coalition of eight of NI's leading business organisations could see the creation of up to 94,000 jobs in Northern Ireland by 2020.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Owen Paterson (pictured) has welcomed the announcement of the plans - as did the Alliance party - after Mr Paterson met with representatives to hear details of their policy document.

Owen Paterson said: "I warmly welcome the announcement of this positive, forward looking agenda and congratulate the Business Coalition in tackling some of the challenges we all face in rebalancing the economy in Northern Ireland.

"Our over reliance on the public sector must be addressed and the proactive support of the private sector is vital," he said.

Heading the delegation was Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association, one of the Business Coalition members of the group that aims to represent every sector of the economy in Northern Ireland.

The Business Coalition outlined their top actions that include the creation of a more competitive tax base, delivery of a sustained investment strategy, workplace skills re-alignment and ways public services can be delivered to enhance productivity and outcomes.

They said reducing the rate of corporation tax is 'key to their plan' for creating almost 100,000 jobs by 2020.

A statement said: "This will require the introduction of a 'low and competitive rate of corporation tax' while 'decisive political leadership' is also needed."

The Alliance party's Finance Spokesperson Stephen Farry also welcomed today's launch of the business coalition jobs plan manifesto and its focus on improving skills, saying this is the biggest change needed to grow our economy.

He also said that Alliance would be publishing their own skills policy document in the very near future.

The MLA said: "Strengthening our skills base is the key to transforming our economy. A comprehensive joined-up skills strategy would deliver massive benefits to our economy.

"Such a transformation would help boost the private sector and help address the over-dependence on the public sector. Alliance is leading change having campaigned for a strong skills strategy for a number of years.

"Alliance is going to publish a skills policy document in the very near future and we will continue to lead on this issue," he said also noting that it is also very important that Northern Ireland is afforded a level playing field to compete for new jobs, through a reduced level of corporation tax.

"A lower rate of corporation tax is vital, but we need to ensure we can deliver the skills which meet the needs of potential investors as the top priority.

"Having the right tax rate does not guarantee investment without the right skills," he suggested.

(BMcC/KMcA)