North ready to rise out of recession, says Obama envoy

THE North’s economy is ready to rise out of recession, despite the threat from dissident republicans, President Barack Obama’s special envoy predicted yesterday.

Declan Kelly, who will host a major investment conference for the North with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this year, said it was time to “harvest what has been sown”.

Addressing the British- Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Cavan, Mr Kelly said the political progress needed to be built on with a business push.

The US special economic envoy declared the North was entering a new era: “It has an economy with supreme advantages – a highly educated, skilled and English-speaking workforce, superb telecommunications infrastructures, close proximity to Europe and the United States, the lowest operating costs environment in Europe.

“So to use a sporting analogy, I believe we’re in injury time and we have an opportunity to put the ball in the back of the net.”

His comments came in the aftermath of a dissident Republican car bomb outside Newry’s courthouse.