Over 100 senior US executives from more than 80 companies jetted into the Province in May representing the largest number and highest quality of leading business people ever to visit the Province at any one time.

The US and Northern Ireland have enjoyed mutual economic benefits over the years with American companies benefitting from investing in the Province and the local companies increasing sales to America.

The majority of the £1.1bn inward investment during the past five years, which has received backing from Invest NI, has come from  North America (£616m), with large reinvestments from Bombardier Aerospace, Seagate, Caterpillar, Nacco Industries and Du Pont; as well as significant first time inward investments from Controlled Electronic Management Systems and Citi.  The bulk of this investment (£574m) related to US owned companies, supported by £119m of Invest NI financial assistance.   

Since 2002 there has been 51 inward investment projects from the US promoting almost 5000 new jobs.

The past three years have seen 17 first-time investments in software development, representing investment of £75m and creating over 1,500 quality jobs.

Meanwhile exports by Northern Ireland companies to North America have topped £1009m equating to 21.95 per cent of total exports.

Andrea Haughian, Invest NI’s vice president of business development who is based in the agency’s New York office is responsible for netting US inward investors.

“I work with companies who are primarily looking to invest in Northern Ireland but also get feedback from companies who have already set up operations in the Province such as Citi, Liberty Mutual and Allstate. Not only have these companies located in Northern Ireland but they have been incredibly successful and chosen to reinvest on a number of occasions and that has spoken volumes to prospective inward investors who maybe considering Northern Ireland.’’

Andrea says the US-NI investment conference has helped accelerate projects in the pipeline - but she stresses that it will be some time yet before prospective investors commit to establishing here.

“Our focus is on higher level jobs so we see the main opportunities lying in financial services and ICT.

“We are talking to the top names in the investment banking world in particular and we are very encouraged. However, it is a long process but very positive moves are being made.’’

In addition to New York, Invest NI has offices in Boston and San Jose where Northern Ireland companies doing work in those regions can access support.

Given that business in the US is driven by a ‘can-do’ culture, Andrea says US companies have been impressed with the same ethos in Northern Ireland.

“The conference highighted that Northern Ireland is pro-business and pro-active in meeting the needs of international business - that is what US companies wanat to hear,’’ she adds.