Spanish councillors arrive in NI on economic fact finding mission

Councillors from Valencia in Spain have arrived in Belfast today as part of a fact finding mission to the province.

Representatives from municipal government and the community sector will learn about some of the innovative ways in which their Northern Ireland counterparts deal with business development, social inclusion and cultural tourism.

The visitors will also focus on Belfast's experience of hosting events such as the World Cross Country Championships in preparation for their city's staging of the America’s Cup in 2007.

While the visit is facilitated by the Connect project and is funded through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, it encourages European cities to share interests and exchange information of mutual interest.

The itinerary for the Valencian delegation also includes the Gasworks and Laganside sites, North Down, Mossley Mill, Carrickfergus Marina and Castlereagh and Lisburn councils.

Councillor Juan Eduardo Santon, who is heading the Valencia delegation, said: “Our city is very keen to see what the metropolitan area of Northern Ireland is doing to promote economic development in a general sense, but also very specifically what is happening in relation to marketing and reinvigorating declining urban areas. The programme is certainly very extensive and we expect to learn a lot.”

(mmcg/mb)