Robinson And McGuinness Make NI Connections In Japan

The First and deputy First Ministers have attended an event hosted by Northern Irish Connections as part of their visit to Japan.

Northern Irish Connections is a non-profit virtual organisation set up to develop and grow the support of people with a connection to Northern Ireland by birth, family, education or business in the country.

The event was part of the Minister's visit to Japan, which featured business meetings with Japanese companies including a visit to Terumo, which announced a 400 job expansion at its Larne base during the G8 Summit in June, and Ryobi Aluminum Castings, which employs almost 300 staff at its only European plant in Carrickfergus.

First Minister Peter Robinson said: "The Northern Ireland Executive has placed economic growth at the centre of the Programme for Government. We have many excellent businesses in Northern Ireland, but we want to develop further by expanding our overseas markets. One of our greatest exports has been our people and many from Northern Ireland have been attracted to Japan by the lure of working with some of the world’s most dynamic organisations.

"'Northern Irish Connections' enable us to engage directly with the Northern Ireland Diaspora, drawing strength from the influence, knowledge and networks they possess. We want to create a network of advocates that can talk about, and help promote, the good work happening back home and we are also looking for their advice on how we might learn from best practice in Japan, to help grow our own economy."

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "We were honoured to be invited to visit Japan by Prime Minister Abe when we met during the G8 Conference. Over the last number of years we have been working hard to raise the international profile of our businesses, our skills, our products and our people.

"We have identified overseas markets as a catalyst for growth and people from the north of Ireland living in Japan can assist us in achieving this. The Diaspora are living proof of our talented and entrepreneurial population and a product of our first rate education system. We want to learn from our shared experiences, and the Connections initiative in Japan will enable us to maintain contact and develop mutually beneficial links."

(IT/CD)