More than 100 executives from American companies are due to be in attendance.

Nearly half of the companies represented are visiting the Province for the first time.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the new Taoiseach, Brian Cowen are expected to be in attendance over the course of the three-day event.

Welcome

Delegates will be welcomed to Northern Ireland this evening at a reception at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.

The main business section of the conference will take place at BBC's Blackstaff Square facility on Thursday morning. The potential investors will be addressed by companies who have already located in Northern Ireland.

Delegates will have lunch at a reception at Parliament Buildings, where they will be addressed by the First and Deputy First Ministers.

A gala dinner will take place at Hillsborough Castle on Thursday evening.

High quality

Enterprise Minister Nigel Dodds says the event brings together the largest number of high quality, senior business people to visit Northern Ireland.

"It provides a unique opportunity to capitalise on the potential of our political stability and excellent investment proposition," he said.