Donaldson promotes 'gateway to Europe' for US firms

US firms were told today that the North offers American companies an excellent gateway to Europe.

Junior Minister in the North, Jeffrey Donaldson hammered home the message during a meeting in Washington with Paul Dyck, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe in the US Department of Commerce.

While most, if not all, of US business and industry, was focused on the credit crunch, plunging stock market and impending banking crisis, Mr Donaldson tried to get them to think about the North.

On his first ministerial trip to the US, Mr Donaldson said: “Northern Ireland can offer a great deal to American investors. We have a highly educated, skilled, English-speaking workforce, in a region with a strong work ethic and one of the youngest populations in Europe with 60% under the age of 40.”

He said the Northern Ireland Executive was a new pro-business Executive committed to building a vibrant, dynamic and outward looking economy.

“Northern Ireland is on the move and is open for business. We are also an easily accessible region with daily direct flights to and from numerous cities in Europe as well as New York.”

He declared: “Now is the time to come and join us.”

The junior minister, who also attended the White House St Patrick’s Day celebrations, also had a meeting with Director of Victims of Crime John Gillis in the Department of Justice and with First Focus, an organisation committed to making children and their families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions.