That was among the messages from First Minister the Rt. Hon. Peter Robinson MP MLA today as he addressed the Coleraine Borough Chamber.
Mr Robinson said the downturn in the global economy and the possibility of a recession in the UK and the United States, presents an opportunity for Northern Ireland as an attractive location for businesses: “Companies are more cautious and are taking longer to make decisions about new investments in alternative locations. The current financial situation presents an opportunity to market Northern Ireland as a competitive location to those companies.”
The First Minister told the audience that the Executive believes the business community has a vital role to play in achieving the main aim of the Programme for Government, to grow a dynamic, innovative economy: “We must stand by the overriding aim of our Programme for Government which is to grow a dynamic, innovative economy. In today’s global economy it is not necessarily the fittest that survive but those who are best able to adapt to change.”
Mr Robinson added: “Despite the pressures and challenges which we face locally as a result of current global conditions, I believe it is very important that as well as trying to do what we can to address those issues, we must not get caught in the trap of focusing on the short term issues to the exclusion of our longer term goals. We must continue to plan and build for the future.”
Mr Robinson paid tribute to the contribution the Coleraine Borough makes to Northern Ireland’s economy: “The Coleraine Borough area has a number of excellent resources attractive to potential investors such as the main campus of the University of Ulster, the Coleraine Science Park and being only five miles away from one of Northern Ireland’s most renowned tourist destinations, the North Coast.
“It is clear that the area has a number of expanding, innovative and successful businesses which are an excellent example of what Northern Ireland’s business community can offer to the international marketplace.”
Notes to Editors:
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