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10/04/2002
SME sector is “backbone of Northern Ireland economy”
Small and medium sized businesses are the single greatest source of job creation in Northern Ireland the Stormont Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has said.
Speaking in Downpatrick on Wednesday April 10, Sir Reg Empey told a business conference that SME’s are the backbone of the Northern Ireland economy.
“We should celebrate the achievements of this sector and focus our efforts on nurturing future growth. In the Downpatrick area alone almost 90 per cent of people are employed by small businesses.”
Invest Northern Ireland, the new single economic development agency which was set up last week, will have a key focus on providing support to the SME sector, the minister explained. The new super agency aims to increase employment by 19%, turnover by 22% and external sales by 25% within the SME sector over the next three years (between 2002-2005).
In addition Invest NI aims to achieve 4,500 new start-up businesses through an Invest NI and District Council Business Start Programme.
“Other exciting developments underway in the new Agency include plans to provide more support to client companies through making a greater proportion of Invest NI staff customer facing,” Sir Reg added.
“Invest NI will also make greater use of new technologies to help speed up responses to client companies’ queries and requests for help.”
(AMcE)
Speaking in Downpatrick on Wednesday April 10, Sir Reg Empey told a business conference that SME’s are the backbone of the Northern Ireland economy.
“We should celebrate the achievements of this sector and focus our efforts on nurturing future growth. In the Downpatrick area alone almost 90 per cent of people are employed by small businesses.”
Invest Northern Ireland, the new single economic development agency which was set up last week, will have a key focus on providing support to the SME sector, the minister explained. The new super agency aims to increase employment by 19%, turnover by 22% and external sales by 25% within the SME sector over the next three years (between 2002-2005).
In addition Invest NI aims to achieve 4,500 new start-up businesses through an Invest NI and District Council Business Start Programme.
“Other exciting developments underway in the new Agency include plans to provide more support to client companies through making a greater proportion of Invest NI staff customer facing,” Sir Reg added.
“Invest NI will also make greater use of new technologies to help speed up responses to client companies’ queries and requests for help.”
(AMcE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
