Clinton 'Supports' NI Jobs

Among the politics and 'glad-handing' as US Foreign Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton made her much anticipated visit to Northern Ireland, there were hopes of post-devolution jobs creation too.

NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster (pictured here) was among those who met with the former US First Lady - whose many visits to the Province included those with her husband, Bill Clinton, when he was US President.

Minister Foster's meeting with the US representative included a round-table discussion with a newly formed working group, made up of local and US business leaders.

The group, which has been brought together by Declan Kelly, the US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland, aims to underline how the United States can help promote inward investment into Northern Ireland on an on-going basis.

Following the meeting, the Minister said: "Companies across the globe will not stand still in their quest to seek out profitable investments and Northern Ireland must therefore continue to inform decision makers that this region remains an excellent proposition for US companies.

"Earlier, I announced that Navinet, America's largest real-time healthcare communications network, is to set up a software R&D centre in Belfast. A key part of the company's decision to locate here was the quality and skills of our people.

"The US has played an important role in Northern Ireland's growth and development, bringing significant change to trade and investment opportunities here.

"The recently appointed US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland, Declan Kelly has wasted no time in getting to work on encouraging trade and investment links with the US," she continued.

"While these are, of course, exceptionally challenging times for Northern Ireland and indeed right across the globe, the US continues to be a key trade and investment partner for us.

"Over 14,000 people are employed in US companies in Northern Ireland and North America is our second largest export market after the Republic of Ireland," she said.

The Minister also reinforced the Stormont Executive's aim for economic growth and outlined her commitment to building on the positive relationship that Northern Ireland and the US have enjoyed over the years.

"I look forward to building on the discussions that have taken place over the last two days and ultimately to securing more investment from US companies and developing trade opportunities in the US for Northern Ireland firms," she concluded.

See: US Jobs Boost For Belfast

(BMcC/KMcA)