An influential alliance of three northern trade bodies says greater economic cooperation across the island of Ireland is key to prosperity in Northern Ireland.
Trade NI, the alliance of Retail NI, Manufacturing NI and Hospitality Ulster, represent several thousand employers in the north.
Its leadership took its message to the heart of the Irish Government in Dublin on Tuesday evening, where it presented its ‘Northern Ireland Building for Success’ report.
The business alliance said collaboration, investment in shared infrastructure, and joint economic initiatives have already demonstrated that a more integrated approach is not only good for inter-island trade and commerce, but strengthens the island of Ireland proposition internationally.
Around 100 figures from the business and investment sector were hosted by Tánaiste Micheál Martin at his departmental headquarters at Iveagh House in Dublin, where he told the Trade NI-led delegation that the report represents an important contribution to understanding the potential of the Northern Ireland economy, and the impressive progress since the Good Friday Agreement.
“This success is itself testament to the adaptability and resilience of the business community, which has overcome numerous obstacles to shape Northern Ireland into the attractive destination it is today as a destination for business and investment,” said the Tánaiste.
“I welcome the spotlight on the important and growing trade across the island.
“North-south cooperation can catalyse business opportunities and play an important role in building a more connected, sustainable and prosperous island,” he added.
The event in Dublin follows a series of Trade NI-led events in Westminster during May and a week-long mission to Washington DC in March earlier this year.
In an agreed statement, the leadership of Trade NI, Stephen Kelly of Manufacturing NI, Glyn Roberts of Retail NI and Colin Neill of Hospitality Ulster said: “We only have to look at recent cross border business statistics, tourism numbers and trade to see how important all-island activity is to us in Northern Ireland and the potential it holds.
“There is recognition on both sides of the border on the benefits of the all-island proposition and our access to both the EU single market and the UK internal market which makes us strategically well placed.”
“The Irish Government has played a significant role in supporting the northern economy, most recently through investing in key physical and economic infrastructure such as the A5, Narrow Water Bridge and the new teaching block planned for Ulster University in Derry through its Shared Island funding.
“Its work in helping restore the NI Executive means that we can now place our collective energy and efforts in securing investment, capitalising on the all island economy and reminding people that we are one of the most economically exciting places in the world to start and develop a business.
“It is important also that we take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the Irish Government and the Tánaiste and look to the future work we can do together.”
