THE Pittsburgh Investment Conference will underline the peace process in Northern Ireland, Mr William Ginsberg, the assistant secretary at the US Department of Commerce, said yesterday.
Mr Ginsberg said both Senator George Mitchell, who is chairing the inter-party talks in Northern Ireland, and US ambassador, Ms Jean Kennedy Smith, were very keen that the conference would underline the peace process and those working for peace.
Speaking to The Irish Times, Mr Ginsberg said US business had responded very strongly, and more than 90 American companies would be at the conference, which gets under way on Sunday evening, to have talks with the Irish firms attending.
More than 50 Irish firms will be travelling to Pittsburgh from both sides of the Border, with 24 from Northern Ireland.
The 24 companies from Northern Ireland are: Alpha Environmental Systems, Coleraine (decontamination); Boxmore Healthcare Packaging, Belfast (packaging); Boxmore International, - Lisburn (packaging); BT Northern Ireland (telecommunications); CableTel, Belfast (telecommunications); Chartered Software, Derry (software); Clearway Disposals, Portadown (waste treatment); Cleaver, Fulton & Rankin, Belfast (legal services); DDL Europe, Craigavon (electronics); Diamond Corrugated Cases, Derry (packaging); Duromould, Derry (rubber mouldings); Fast Engineering, Antrim (liquid storage systems); First Trust Bank (banking); FM Systems, Newry (waste treatment); ICS-Moving Page, Hillsborough (software); International Business Initiatives, Belfast (technology transfer); Kite, Kinawley, Co Fermanagh (tele-working); Mivan Marine, Antrim(ship refurbishment); Molecules to Market, Belfast (diagnostic medical products); Norbrook Laboratories, Newry (veterinary products); Ostick & Williams, Belfast (project management); Shorts, Belfast (aerospace engineering); Specialist Joinery group, Maghera (joinery); Ulster Weavers Home Fashions, Belfast (textiles giftware).
