The investment was announced by William C. Thompson Jr. Comptroller of the City of New York who is Chief Investment Advisor of the New York City Pension Funds which currently hold assets of $110billion.
The Comptroller announced that trustees of the fund were committing $150million to the Emerald Investment Development Fund LP, a private equity fund that will total some $750million and will target infrastructure investment projects.
Speaking at the announcement, which was held in the City Council Offices in Manhatten, Dr Paisley said: "I want to thank William Thompson and his colleagues for their vision and commitment in putting together this substantial investment package. Their decision to chose Northern Ireland as a place to do business makes this a truly a great day for us and for New York.
"This investment confirms that Northern Ireland has turned a corner. We are now a sound investment location that can provide the right calibre of people and projects to successfully underpin further inward investment, particularly from the US."
Welcoming the investment announcement Mr McGuinness said: "In June last year myself, the Finance Minister Peter Robinson MP, MLA and a number of my Executive colleagues met with the Comptrollers office and I am delighted that today we have seen the fruits of this engagement.
"This investment comes from the pension funds of ordinary people many of whom are represented here today such as firefighters, police officers, teachers and government employees. It is in effect the ordinary people of the US investing in the future of the ordinary people of the North of Ireland.
"The objectives of our US: NI Investment Conference in May will be best delivered by those investors who prioritise such sustainable economic investment in partnership with sustainable social investment."
Notes to Editors:
Media enquiries to OFMDFM Press Office on 028 9052 1905. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
