Number of executives for US invesment talks has doubled

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Monday, May 05, 2008

By Lesley-Anne Henry

A landmark US/Northern Ireland investment conference this week is set to be a success, the Deputy First Minister has predicted.

In the same week which sees the first anniversary of devolution and the official resignation of Bertie Ahern, the long-awaited conference kicks off in Co Down.

The three-day business event, which starts on Wednesday, will see between 30 and 50 chief executives and senior executives from US companies attending. Delegates have also been invited from industry sectors in which Northern Ireland has particular strengths and which offer the delegates a good match for their businesses.

They will hear about the substantial business benefits that investors have already experienced and how investors can profit.

The programme will begin with a welcome reception at the NI Folk and Transport Museum on May 7.

The main conference will be on the Thursday morning followed by afternoon forums for delegates. A gala dinner will be held that evening at Hillsborough Castle. On May 9, delegates will be invited to take part in a tailored business programme specific to their sector.

Speaking yesterday, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said there has been a wider interest than had been anticipated and he expected the conference to be a success.

"I think the fact that we're having such a very large turnout from the US is a very clear indicator that people there are interested," he said.

"Remember whenever we set in train the whole process of having this conference the indications were there would be 30 to 40 senior executives coming here.

"That has now doubled — we're finding it quite difficult to cater for everybody who wants to come.

"So we are seeing a huge turnout and we're seeing that in the context of the economic difficulties that people in the US are experiencing," he said.

Meanwhile this week the power-sharing executive celebrates its first full year in business and to coincide the Belfast Telegraph will publish the results of a major poll on the mood of the people.

The specially commissioned Ipsos MORI poll will gauge for the first time exactly how the public in Northern Ireland views its leaders, how they have dealt with the major issues like the Maze, the abolition of the 11-plus and policing and who they think is best.

Also this week, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is due to officially step down after announcing his resignation last month.

He will also resign as leader of Fianna Fail. Pressure had been growing for him to go early following a string of embarrassing appearances in the witness stand at an anti-corruption tribunal.