US execs arrive in Belfast for investment conference

US:NI Conference

Invest US:NI

Click here to view the Belfast Telegraph's Invest US:NI magazine (pdfs)

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

By Robin Morton

Hopes are rising of a major boost for the Northern Ireland economy as more than 100 high-profile American executives flew into Belfast for the biggest investment conference ever to have taken place in the province.

The US:NI investment conference kicks off with a reception this evening and the main business session will then take place at the BBC Blackstaff Studio in the heart of Belfast tomorrow.

The high profile event will be attended by more than 100 senior personnel from more than 70 American companies, most of whom were today flying in — some of them in their own executive jets.

Invest NI said that because of commercial sensitivities, full details of the guestlist were not being circulated in advance of the conference.

But it is known that among the companies which will be represented at the event are global investment bank Goldman Sachs and pharmaceutical group Pfizer. Also attending are senior figures from eBay, the internet trading company, and internet provider AOL.

Economy Minister Nigel Dodds said it was significant that more than half of the companies attending had not previously sent anyone to Northern Ireland.

He said: "This is a unique opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland and prove to corporate America that we are well and truly open for business."

Tomorrow, delegates will be addressed at Parliament Buildings by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the newly elected Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, who will be paying his first visit to Northern Ireland in his new capacity.

On Thursday evening, the VIP guests will attend a gala dinner at Hillsborough House before flying home on Friday.

First Minister Ian Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness heralded the conference as a potential catalyst for economic transformation in Northern Ireland.

Mr Paisley and Mr McGuinness, who will welcome delegates to Parliament Buildings tomorrow, said the conference was "vitally important".

Mr Paisley said: "In these difficult economic times, it is a matter of great encouragement that we have exceeded our expectations in terms of numbers of leading business and political figures that have come to join us. We are also delighted to welcome the Prime Ministers of Britain and the Republic of Ireland and also the endorsement of US President Bush and EU Commission President Barroso for the conference.

"Over the next three days we have the opportunity to sell Northern Ireland in an unprecedented format and I am confident that when we place our many attributes on the table, we can make a case that these potential investors will find difficult to resist."

Mr McGuinness said it gave him great pleasure to see the conference getting under way.

He said: "This conference comes as the result of much hard work and planning, and the level and quality of the delegations that are joining us speaks volumes for the interest and goodwill that exists within the US and of the engagement that we have been involved in over the last year."

Mr McGuinness added the engagement had already borne fruit and cited the recent announcement of a $150m investment in Northern Ireland by the New York Comptroller Office.

Among the delegates to the conference are William Thompson, the New York Comptroller, Duncan Niederaurer CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, and the Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg.

Mr Bloomberg and Sir Anthony O'Reilly, CEO of Independent News & Media, owners of the Belfast Telegraph, will be addressing delegates at Stormont tomorrow.