North West at US Investment Conference

Chamber Calls for "fair representation"

The Chamber President, Mr Ian Crowe, called for "fair representation" for Derry, at the forthcoming US Investment Conference in May. Speaking at a select Business Lunch in The Beech Hill Hotel, Mr Crowe, together with local business representatives, urged those organising the conference not to forget the needs of businesses in the North West.

In his opening speech welcoming Dr. Paula Dobriansky, US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, Mr Crowe stressed the importance of ensuring the conference "reflects equitably the social-economic needs of all of Northern Ireland and not solely those of the Belfast Area".

Speaking about opportunities in the area, Mr Crowe commented on current cross-border economic co-operation and but stressed the need for the continuing improvements to the road and rail infrastructure serving the NW region.

Highlighting the success of previous North West investors such as DuPont, Stream International and others, Mr Crowe said "These companies are a visible testament to the fact that they can operate successfully in the European marketplace from a North West of Ireland location. Opportunities exist, if they have not already been seized, to bring trade delegations to the North West to visit these companies and to let them tell their own story of their experiences in the Derry area". "That is why it is important that the forthcoming conference reflects these wider dimensions and does not simply confine itself to being a Belfast investment conference, rather than a Northern Ireland investment conference".

Commenting on the day, Chamber CEO Janice Tracey states "the lunch provided a useful forum for the Chamber to point out the North West's strengths as an economic region and to ensure that a cohesive approach to investment is taken at the forthcoming conference." She continued: "This is not about Derry and only Derry, our strength lies in the range and choice of locations from Strabane through to Limavady and of course our access to a wider pool of labour from across the region and in neighbouring Donegal. We will continue to lobby directly both the US and Northern Irish Governments and look forward to meeting all those involved in the 2 day conference".

Ms Dobrainsky, who spoke in glowing terms about her first visit to the city, called on the business community to fully participate in the US Investment Conference in May. She outlined the possibility of speaking opportunities for the private sector to showcase the city as an investment destination. Janice Tracey, the Chamber CEO said "We will be looking for company's with an investment story to tell and helping them fine tune what it is that Derry has to offer potential investors".