Speaking at the Celtic Ball in New York, the Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister said: “Following the success of the Rediscover Northern Ireland programme and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival earlier this year, we aim to bring more of Northern Ireland’s arts and culture to America in the coming years. We want people in the United States to experience and enjoy the unique culture and variety of sports in Northern Ireland. We have much to offer!
“The people of Northern Ireland also want the United States to see them as competent, capable and outward looking. We want to do business with you, we want you to visit us to see how we can help with your business growth.”
The Minister said that the Northern Ireland Executive and the Assembly are clearly focused on the economy and the business community and that this will be a key priority over the next few years.
He continued: “Having devolved government restored provides us with a much greater opportunity to make Northern Ireland succeed in the global marketplace. We have received a great deal of interest from the United States in the past and now is the time to capitalize on this by emphasizing the many achievements in our economy, education, technology, community sectors and culture.
“We want people here to get more interested in what we can do and what we can achieved than in the issues of the past. We will be building on the relationships developed over the years but we will move from politics and the peace building to the job creation, increasing learning and innovation to the benefit of everyone.”
Notes to Editors:
- Edwin Poots was deputising for the First Minister, Dr Ian Paisley, and the event was also attended by deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness and Employment and Learning Minister, Reg Empey MLA.
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