American acceptance is on the up for investment conference

Economy Minister Nigel Dodds has announced that, to date, forty-eight US companies have accepted invitations to the US-NI Investment Conference.

Minister Dodds is very pleased with the encouraging response from the US business community to the conference. He said: "To date, 48 US companies have accepted invitations to attend the US-NI Investment Conference in May. Originally the conference aimed to attract 40-50 senior US business representatives, however we are greatly encouraged by the level of interest shown by the US business community to date.

"The conference, which will run from 7–9 May, is a one time opportunity for Northern Ireland to engage directly with influential US business representatives. It will give us the opportunity to showcase a Northern Ireland which is open for business.

“Potential investors will see at first hand the greater stability and optimism for the future that has arisen since the restoration of devolution. We can demonstrate to these investors the expertise and skills of our workforce, the sound infrastructure base which underpins our support for enterprise and the first-class research base which exists in our universities. It is important to demonstrate how our third level institutions place commercial exploitation of R&D and innovation at the heart of the academic and skills agenda. We can also outline our plans to further invest in and improve our skills, infrastructure and research base and highlight the great lifestyle that we have on offer.

“The conference continues to have strong support from the US administration, the governments of the UK and the Irish Republic as well as companies of the calibre of Nortel, Allstate and Citi."

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