Belfast In Nashville For World Trade Week

Alderman Brian Kingston, Belfast's Lord Mayor, is leading a delegation to Belfast's Sister City, Nashville USA to coincide with World Trade Week.

The trip has been arranged in close liaison with Mayor Barry of Nashville and Sister City Board Members and is intended to develop trade, education and tourism links between Belfast and Nashville, as well as investment and partnership opportunities.

Speaking ahead of the visit, the Lord Mayor said: "We signed our Sister City Agreement with Nashville 21 years ago and at that time our links were primarily through music and culture.

"We've progressed significantly in that period as a city – and although our vibrant cultural offering is still of immense importance, we're now in a position to really focus on our economic growth, attracting investment, boosting tourism, and on profiling our strengths in terms of talent, skills, education and research and development.

"There's a packed programme of appointments lined up for us and I'm especially looking forward to meeting with private sector leaders at a business roundtable event. I'm also proud that we'll be facilitating a live link up between Catalyst Inc in Belfast and the Oasis Center, Nashville to progress the replication of the 'Generation Innovation: Night of Ambition' event for creative young people aged 16-18.

"It's fantastic that a Belfast blueprint for empowering young people and inspiring them to become part of the knowledge economy is being taken forward by our Sister City, Nashville."

Accompanying the Lord Mayor are Councillor Aileen Graham, Chair of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee and Alderman Guy Spence, member of the City Growth and Regeneration Committee.

The key opportunities the delegation will be exploring in Nashville are:

• trade and investment through technology, healthcare, tourism and creative industry sectors;

• links with Belfast's Innovation Factory;

• links with the Greater Nashville Arts & Business Programme; and

• exchanges for legal professionals. 

(MH)