Sir Reg leads NI delegation at US-Ireland summit

Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, is set to arrive in Washington tomorrow to lead the Northern Ireland delegation at the three-day US-Ireland Business Summit which will run from September 4-6.

Speaking before his departure, the Minister said now was the time to act on meeting the lacklustre international economic situation.

He added: “The Summit is providing an important opportunity for Northern Ireland to learn from American experience in nurturing enterprising business driven by bright ideas and a clear strategic vision and how best to reshape our culture into one that values and rewards entrepreneurs.

“Although Northern Ireland’s entrepreneurial activity has been weak, there are many other reasons to feel confident that we have plenty to offer the US.

“Our workforce is among the youngest, best educated and most computer literate in Europe. Internationally recognised university research centres are working alongside industry on pioneering product development in fast growth sectors such as biotechnology, wireless networks and photonics. R&D facilities for industry are being further strengthened by a huge investment by government in a network of knowledge-driven Centres of Excellence.

“Inward investment, particularly from the US, has grown significantly. We now have over 160 US-owned companies employing nearly 22,000 people. Productivity has increased sharply; unemployment has fallen to its lowest levels and exports have more than doubled."

The Summit will be launched with a Congressional reception on Wednesday hosted by Senator Ted Kennedy and Republican Congressman Jim Walsh.

Keynote speakers at the conference, which has been endorsed by the Bush administration, include US Secretary of Commerce Don Evans; US Secretary of Health and Human Sciences Tommy Thompson; and the Republic of Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Harney TD.

(MB)