This virus crisis shows up how much NI’s manufacturing prowess has crumbled – but we can turn it around

Not too long ago Northern Ireland’s textiles sector had the capacity to fulfil such orders.

Locally there were many companies with first-class product reputations, highly skilled staff, and world-wide trading links.

The demise of this once important manufacturing sector was brought about by EU policies designed to push textiles manufacturing off-shore.

It has taken this awful pandemic to highlight a gap in Northern Ireland’s economy. The UK is now out of the EU; the manufacturing gap is now an opportunity.

The opportunity to create a longer-term textiles sector investment strategy, as in Scotland, with the strong prospect of hugely increased job numbers.

Robin Newton MLA, East Belfast DUP

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