3 October 2007 Minister for Regional Development arrives in US
New York, NY-Northern Ireland’s Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy MP, MLA, arrives in the U.S. today, to hold talks with senior government officials, members of Congress and potential U.S. investors.
The trip is designed to promote and build upon the major investment conference to be held in Belfast next year and to forge links with the United States with a focus on infrastructure and public transportation.
During his visit, the Minister will be meeting a broad range of people and organizations with expertise in physical infrastructure and public transportation. The Minister is particularly interested in learning about approaches in the planning, design and delivery of integrated, high quality transport and infrastructure services in places such as New York and beyond.
Before departing Mr. Murphy said, “This trip presents a unique opportunity to promote and further engage the U.S. government and potential investors on the benefits that exist here as we work to build an economy based on a just, stable and prosperous society across the north of Ireland.
“I will be taking every opportunity to tell people, including senior business executives, about the major economic conference which is being staged back home and the enormous opportunities it offers now that we have stability and a power-sharing executive.
“I believe it can be a great success and bring major investment from across the Atlantic with high quality jobs being created as a result. The visit will also give me an opportunity to tell of other positive developments which have taken place and to strengthen existing links between North America and Europe.”
The Minister begins his visit in New York, where he will address to over 250 top Irish-American business leaders at a luncheon event in the financial district, organized by the Irish Echo newspaper. He will also meet senior representatives in Governor Eliot Spitzer’s office, a top executive in the New York Stock Exchange and senior bankers. A meeting has also been arranged with New York City Comptroller, William Thompson Jr.
Mr. Murphy will then travel on to Washington, DC where he will meet at the State Department with Special Envoy on Northern Ireland, Paula Dobriansky, and will also pay a courtesy call on the Irish Ambassador to the U.S.
“The visit will also give me and my Officials an opportunity to meet with those who are at the leading edge of infrastructure and transport development and I am confident that I can forge links and learn lessons which can be applied back home. Links of this kind are invaluable and we must do all we can to exploit them allowing us to build our infrastructure and therefore our economy across the island and become an attractive base for foreign direct investment and a place to do business.”