The Minister was speaking at the launch of the NetWORKs 2008 Trade Event for Social Enterprises, which takes place on 10 June 2008 at St George's Market, Belfast. The Trade Show, funded by Co-operation Ireland and the International Fund for Ireland, is the first event organised exclusively to provide a platform for social economy enterprises to focus on trade.
Addressing an audience of around 50 key influencers from the social economy sector and the wider business community, the Minister said: “The social economy is an integral part of the Northern Ireland economy. Social Economy Enterprises make a unique and distinctive contribution in terms of their impact on local communities, particularly in areas of economic disadvantage.
“I congratulate the organisers, the Ulster Community Investment Trust, for taking this initiative which will provide an opportunity for up to 100 social enterprises from both sides of the border to showcase their products and services and to show what the social economy sector has to offer.”
The event was held at Merville House, a social enterprise in Newtownabbey. Helen Matthews, Chair of Ulster Community Investment Trust (UCIT) Ltd said: “A key aim of the trade event is to encourage engagement between social enterprises and organisations from the private and public sector.
“Increasingly social enterprises are competing in the same marketplace as private companies and as a result are required to be as competitive, professional and innovative as possible. The trade event will assist in this by offering a range of networking and meet-the-buyers opportunities along with practical advice seminars. The trade event will also help educate people about the potential benefits of using a social enterprise so that more public and private sector organisations avail of their products and services.”
CBI Northern Ireland Chairman, Brian Ambrose said: “Social enterprises play a vital role in ensuring a balanced approach to economic development across Northern Ireland. By hosting the first ever all-Ireland trade event for social enterprises and entrepreneurs, the value and positive contribution that they make to local communities and the wider economy can be recognised.
“The trade event will provide a platform for social enterprises attending to develop new networks and business opportunities for their services and products across the private and public sector. This important initiative is something that merits the full support of the Northern Ireland business community.”
For more information on the event, access the Ulster Community Investment Trust website 
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Notes to Editors:
- UCIT Ltd is the key provider of loan finance, free advice, business support and mentoring to the social economy sector in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of the Republic of Ireland.
- NetWORKS is a cross border community enterprise programme, which aims to increase the efficiency, sustainability, and skill base of social economy enterprise projects that impact socially and economically in both Northern Ireland and the border regions.
- NetWORKs (in association with UCIT) will be offering the sector a chance to showcase their services at The Trade Show, to be held on 10 June 2008 at St George’s Market, Belfast. The Trade Show, funded by Co-operation Ireland and the International Fund for Ireland, is the first event organised exclusively to provide a platform for social economy enterprises to focus on trade.
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