NI Chamber & Invest NI Launch New International Partnership

Northern Ireland's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber) has teamed up with Invest NI to launch a new international partnership aimed at growing the region's profile in global markets.

The deal will see the two organisations use their combined resources to support local firms and encourage outward development and export opportunities, in a bid to showcase Northern Ireland as a destination region for foreign direct investment, further education and tourism.

"As members of the International Chamber of Commerce, NI Chamber has access to world-wide connections that could be of benefit to exporters seeking to grow their sales outside of Northern Ireland. At the same time Invest NI has international offices all over the world and a sales team with a vast amount of knowledge about the local market," said Ann McGregor, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The firms plan to collaborate their efforts to help local firms make worldwide connections and support the growth of NI exports, a welcome development at a time of uncertainty around Northern Ireland's trade future with the European Union.

Steve Harper, Executive Director of International Business at Invest NI, said: "There is a large network of Northern Ireland diaspora right across the globe and we believe that by combining our efforts we can reach more of these people and educate them about what is happening in their home country, further growing the number of people able to advocate about what Northern Ireland has to offer."

The partnership will see the bodies combine to submit a bid for the region to be the host of the World Chamber Congress, an international forum for chamber leaders to share best-practices, exchange insights, develop networks and address the latest business issues affecting their communities.

"This will promote Northern Ireland as a potential host and business destination to the 12,000 strong global network of member chambers via the World Chamber Congress bidding process, and if successful it would bring an estimated economic value £1.92m to Northern Ireland," Mrs McGregor added.

"Held every two years in a different region of the world, the Congress provides unparalleled opportunities to connect and strengthen relations with a diverse and international group of individuals representing more than 100 countries."



(JG/MH)