Ministers Visit Local US-Owned Firms

In advance of a planned investment mission to the United States, the two top NI Executive Ministers have been holding a series of meetings with senior management at local branches of American companies.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness visited local engineering FG Wilson and held talks with management representatives last week.

The move follows the firm's announment of 250 redundancies and news that it had laid off 180 agency workers.

Martin McGuinness said their meeting had helped them gain a greater understanding of the impact of the economic downturn on local manufacturers.

Mr McGuinness said: "Our meeting with Mark Sweeney and the local management team has enabled us to understand in greater depth, and hear at first hand, how the current economic downturn is impacting on our local manufacturers.

"During our visit to the United States we will be meeting with senior executives of Caterpillar Inc, the parent company of FG Wilson, to reinforce the important contribution which the company makes to the local economy, in terms of both employment and research and development."

Also commenting, Mr Robinson said: "We will also re-emphasise the central focus the Executive has placed on the economy and our commitment to provide the most effective and efficient support to business in these difficult times.

"We shall also be meeting other existing investors and exploring trade and investment opportunities, with the strong message that we are, very much, open for business."

In advance of their visit the Ministers will also meet with other local operations of existing US investors before meeting their US-based parent companies.

Whilst in the States both men will tell corporate America that their continued investment is vital to the economic life of Northern Ireland.

Mr Robinson said: "The United States has major interests in Northern Ireland which will no doubt be among the first to feel the knock effects of the current recession. In this situation we are left with two stark choices, we either bury our heads in the sand and hope for the best or we open dialogue with the companies involved to see what can be done to secure jobs."

Mark Sweeney, Global Operations Director, Caterpillar Electric Power Division and Managing Director, FG Wilson Limited, said: "We are grateful to the First and Deputy First Minister's for taking the time from their busy schedules to visit FG Wilson, to listen to our concerns and to gain a better appreciation of the challenges we currently face."

(BMcC/JM)