02/06/2016

Minister Praises NI's Manufacturing Sector

NI's manufacturing sector has been praised by the new Economy Minister Simon Hamilton.

He made the comments during a visit to Canyon Europe Ltd in Newtownabbey.

The firm designs and manufactures of high quality and innovative dispensing solutions. It is the first Japanese company to set up in Northern Ireland and trade in over 50 markets around the world.

Minister Hamilton said: "Manufacturing is hugely important to the Northern Ireland economy. Manufacturing provides around 11% of all jobs in Northern Ireland and almost 16% of total economic output of the region. The sector makes a significant contribution to export levels and research and development, both of which are central to wealth generation.

"I am pleased that in spite of many challenges our local manufacturing sector has seen its output grow by 2.4% in the last year and that employment in manufacturing firms has grown to approximately 80,000.

"My Department's key objectives are to stimulate innovation and Research and Development, improve the skills of the workforce, and to enable businesses to compete successfully in global markets. These are all areas that the manufacturing sector has embraced.

"Businesses and the workforce are key drivers of economic growth. The new Programme for Government framework contains a set of outcomes which reflect our ambitions to grow the economy and improve our economic competitiveness. A refocused economic strategy will further support and reflect our ambition to rebalance the local economy."

(CD)

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