NI investment conference to conclude

A conference aimed at securing American investment in Northern Ireland ends today with top US business executives exploring what opportunities exist for them in the country.

After two days of intense lobbying from Stormont, British, Irish and US government representatives, some of the biggest names in US commerce will get a chance to look at possible investment opportunities.

Among those touring potential investment sites will be New York City Comptroller William Thompson who announced last month $150 million in pension funds will invested in infrastructural projects in Northern Ireland and the Republic through the specially created Emerald Fund.

Mr Thompson is due to visit the site of the former Crumlin Road Jail and adjoining Girdwood Barracks in north Belfast  which has been earmarked for a major regeneration project.

He will also meet Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams during a visit to west Belfast.

Yesterday Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown lent their support to the  Northern Ireland Executive’s efforts to revitalise the Northern Ireland economy.

The conference was also addressed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and received video messages
of support from US President George Bush and European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.

It has also seen a number of significant investment announcements from companies like Bombardier Aerospace, Bloomberg, the New York Stock Exchange owned software company Wombat and the software firm CyberSource.

PA

© 2008 ireland.com