It is understood the two men will hold a private one-to-one meeting at the airport before heading to Stormont to meet Ian Paisley, Martin McGuinness and American business visitors.

n The conference started with a welcome reception yesterday evening hosted by Economy

Minister Nigel Dodds and US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Ambassador Paula Dobriansky at

the Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra attended by the visiting delegates, existing investors, and members of the Northern Ireland

business community.

At the reception, guests had the opportunity to sample a Taste of Ulster with speciality foods being served from each of the six

counties.

n Today, the conference begins at the BBC Blackstaff Studios,where delegates will hear from existing investors.

This includes Mike Zafirovski, CEO of Nortel, Jim Foster, CAO (EMEA) of Citi, John Spangler, Managing Director of Seagate, Brian Goggin, Group Chief Executive of the Bank of Ireland, Bill Rohner, Vice President of Caterpillar’s Electric Power division, Cathy Brune, CIO,

Allstate Insurance and Stuart McGuigan, CTO of Liberty Mutual.

Delegates will also hear from Sir Reg Empey on the Department for Employment and Learning’s commitment to providing quality training tailored to employers’ needs.

An exhibition will also be on show in Blackstaff to highlight the Northern Ireland business story. It will include community and

entrepreneurial material to illustrate that the region is open for business.

At lunchtime, the conference will move to Parliament Buildings where Mr Brown, Mr Cowen and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will attend.

Hillsborough Castle will then play host to the visitors and representatives from Northern Ireland business at a gala dinner, where key dignitaries will address the audience.

n Tomorrow, breakfast briefings including Financial Services, ICT and Alternative Investment Opportunities will take place. These will be followed by a Press conference to reflect on the conference and on what the visitors have seen and heard throughout.

Delegates will then have the opportunity to travel across Northern Ireland on trips including tailored visits to local companies and Centres of Excellence or enjoy a range of leisure activities from golf at Royal Portrush to tours of some of the Province’s landmark tourist attractions.