Paisley begins four-day US visit

US: NORTHERN IRELAND'S First Minister the Rev Ian Paisley has begun a four-day visit to the United States in preparation for next month's investment conference in Belfast.

Dr Paisley met privately with New York mayor Michael Bloomberg yesterday before travelling to Washington for a series of political meetings today.

Among those expected to meet Dr Paisley are: Senator Edward Kennedy; Congressman Richard Neal, chairman of the Congressional Friends of Ireland; deputy secretary of state John Negroponte; and US treasury undersecretary for international affairs David McCormick.

"The conference represents a major opportunity for NI to secure its economic future for many years to come," Dr Paisley said of next month's event, which aims to develop business relationships between the US and the North.

"By coming to the US at this time I want to ensure that, in the run-up to the conference, NI is in the forefront of the minds of key business decision-makers as a premier location for investment, particularly in high value, knowledge-led activities, where I believe we have all the right ingredients to offer."

© 2008 The Irish Times

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