Top executives from some of America's largest companies will jet into Northern Ireland today for the start of the most important investment conference ever to take place in the Province.
Among the 100 senior US executives and 80 companies taking part in the US-NI conference will be representatives from ebay, AOL Global Operations Ltd, Goldman Sachs International and Edward Jones.
Economy Minister Nigel Dodds has described the thre
e-day investment conference as “a unique chance’’ to showcase the Province as a place to do business and a “one off’’ opportunity to attract American investment.
Speaking on the eve of the conference, Mr Dodds said: “I am very encouraged by the calibre of delegates attending the US-NI Investment Conference.’’
Mr Dodds said the conference would see the largest number of leading business people ever to visit the Province at any one time.
Among the influential and eminent businessmen attending will be New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the CEO of NYSE Euronext Duncan Niederauer.
The conference formally opens tonight with a reception at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum in Cultra hosted by Mr Dodds and US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Paula Dobriansky at which the US delegation and guests will be given a taste of some of the finest produce the Province has to offer.
The main part of the conference takes place tomorrow at the BBC Blackstaff Studios in Belfast when the delegates will hear from some of the chiefs of US companies who have already invested in Northern Ireland.
It will include addresses by John Spangler, CEO Seagate, Bill Rohner, vice-president of Caterpillar’s Electric Power division, Cathy Brune, CIO Allstate Insurance and Stuart McGuigan, CTO Liberty Mutual.
An address will also be given by Sir Reg Empey, who will detail the Department for Employment and Learning’s commitment to providing quality training tailored to employers’ needs.
In the afternoon, the delegation will travel to Parliament Buildings, Stormont, where they will be welcomed by First Minister Ian Paisley, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Republic’s new taoiseach Brian Cowen.
The conference is taking place on the anniversary of the first year of devolved government and delegates will hear about the economic and political transformation that has taken place in Northern Ireland.
On Friday morning, breakfast meetings including financial services, ICT and alternative investment opportunities will take place and delegates will then have the oportunity to visit local companies and enjoy some sightseeing.
Meanwhile, American-owned Northbrook Technology – which employs more than 1,500 people in Northern Ireland in operations in Belfast, Londonderry and Strabane – has announced it is to change its name.
In anticipation of its forthcoming 10th Anniversary in October, the company will change its name to Allstate Northern Ireland to fall under the umbrella of its parent company brand of Allstate, which is the biggest insurance company in the US.
The full article contains 490 words and appears in News Letter newspaper.
