Program Shapes Up For US-NI Investment Conference

Program details for the US-NI Investment Conference were been revealed by the Economy Minister, Nigel Dodds this week.

The conference will run from 7-9 May, commencing with a Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening at the Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra.

The next day takes the US delegates from Blackstaff Studios in Belfast to Parliament Buildings, at Stormont and in the evening to Hillsborough Castle. The formal proceedings conclude on Friday morning at the Culloden Hotel and delegates then have the opportunity to visit all parts of Northern Ireland for business and leisure activities.

Commenting on the response from the United States to the conference, Minister Dodds said: "When Invest NI first started planning for the conference, we had hoped to attract 30 - 40 senior executives from major US corporations operating in those market sectors where we see the best opportunities for future inward investment.

"I can now confirm that there has been an overwhelmingly positive response and, to date, over 70 companies have said that it is their intention to visit Northern Ireland in May for the conference. Of these, over 40 will be visiting Northern Ireland for the first time and the rest will be representatives of existing investors. In total, we hope to welcome ninety senior executives to Northern Ireland to be part of this event."

Confirmed speakers who will tell their success stories of investing and working in Northern Ireland include Mike Zafirovski, CEO of Nortel, Jim Foster, CAO (EMEA) of Citi, John Spangler, Managing Director of Seagate, Brian Goggin, Group Chief Executive of the Bank of Ireland, Bill Rohner, Vice President of Caterpillar's Electric Power division, Cathy Brune, CIO, Allstate Insurance and Stuart McGuigan, CTO of Liberty Mutual.