Businesses must continue to promote NI says Minister

Local organisations and business groups must continue to challenge and transform the negative images of Northern Ireland, the Stormont Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Sir Reg Empey has said.

Speaking at an event in Stormont to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Northern Ireland Public Sector Enterprises (NI-CO), the minister said that such work was “vital for the future economic health of the region”.

Sir Reg said: “NI-CO has delivered over 100 projects in 35 different countries throughout central and eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and the former Soviet Union.

“The organisation’s focus is on harnessing and exporting the expertise of public, and increasingly private sector employees, in becoming involved in projects across a range of disciplines overseas.

“Such individuals are true ambassadors for Northern Ireland in illustrating to countries, organisations and individuals across the world our skills and abilities.”

NI-CO’s Chief Executive, Rupert Haydock paid tribute to the NI-CO members who have worked abroad. He said: “The company’s tremendous success to date has placed a positive image of Northern Ireland on the international stage and has given credibility and credence to the Northern Ireland skills base which has so much to offer our counterparts in transitional economies.

“To date NI-CO are privileged to have worked with many of the leading public, private, local government and voluntary institutions in Northern Ireland and are keen to expand this co-operation as we go forward into the next decade.

“We are always on the look out for new members, and would encourage public and private employees to consider NI-CO as part of their individual and company development programme.”

(AMcE)