Public consultation begins on Invest NI corporate plan

Invest Northern Ireland have launched the new economic development body’s draft corporate plan for public consultation.

Invest NI Chairman of the Shadow Board Professor Fabian Monds and Chief Executive Designate Leslie Morrison announced the plan, and the corporate identity of the organisation, which will come into operation in April.

The superagency will aim to promote innovation as “the key to Northern Ireland’s future economic growth – to raising incomes and generating more quality employment, on an equal basis, for all its citizens”.

Professor Monds said Invest NI would work alongside the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) in the development and implementation of initiatives to accelerate Northern Ireland’s economic growth.

Professor Monds said: “Invest NI has been designed to be different in its overall approach to economic development, in its services and the way it will offer these to business through multi-functional client teams and in its engagement with the wider community.

“The new identity is a symbol of the change now underway with the formation of Invest NI. The identity has been created to demonstrate freshness, presenting an organisation that is vibrant, modern and confident - an approach in tune with the devolution of power and the greater role given to people here in shaping a new future for Northern Ireland.

“While Invest NI’s structure under a private sector-led Board will provide it with the independence to be commercial in its practices and responsive to clients, its operations will be fully compatible with the streamlined functions that DETI has detailed in its recently published Corporate Plan.”

Outlining Invest NI’s strategic approach, Mr Morrison said the keynote for activities would be "innovation and entrepreneurship”.

He said that failure to address Northern Ireland’s inadequate business birth rate would hold back the economy’s rates of innovation and wealth creation. He also encouraged existing businesses to widen their horizons, to develop external markets and to build scale.

Over 2,500 copies of the Corporate Plan for consultation will be distributed to business organisations. Copies may also be obtained at www.investni.com/corporateplan

The consultation process will also involve:

• Discussions with business representative bodies;



• Meetings in Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Ballymena, Craigavon and Omagh

The overall aim will be to draw on Northern Ireland’s strengths to drive the economy forward.

(SP)