Northern Ireland must create a "safe" climate for investors and develop a pro-business attitude to secure further US investment, the president of New York's leading economic organisation will tell industry leaders in the North today. Mr Michael Carey, president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, is in Belfast to lead a trade mission, which includes 20 representatives from some of the US's leading financial institutions.
Several prominent venture capital firms and investment banks are among the mission members, who will meet with a variety of start-up firms and high-tech companies in the North.
The New York group is the primary vehicle for economic development in New York City and, together with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, is widely credited with attracting major new investment to rejuvenate the state.
Mr Carey said he believed the continuing peace process in Northern Ireland had created the right environment for companies in New York to start exploring potential opportunities with firms from the North.
The visit has been welcomed by economic development groups in Northern Ireland, who see it as another step in promoting an improved image for the North.
However, recent outbreaks of violence on the streets of Portadown and the threat of further clashes in the run-up to the now annual Drumcree stand-off will, according to industry observers, once again diminish Northern Ireland's reputation as an investment location.
Mr Carey, however, is optimistic about the North's future outlook. He is a long-standing supporter of Northern Ireland through his work with the Flax Trust, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes economic development projects in the North.
His father, a former governor of New York, was involved in the American Ireland Fund and Mr Carey continues to support a number of charitable organisations that have a strong Irish focus, North and South.
"I think if you believe in something, then you should act on it. If my confidence in Northern Ireland and the visit by the New York Economic Development Corporation encourages other organisations to look again at Northern Ireland, then that would be a very good thing," he said.
Mr Carey said he felt other business leaders shared his optimism for the North. "We believe this is a good time to come to Northern Ireland because we see a great number of opportunities for strategic relationships to develop.
"The New York Development Corporation has been fostering relationships with our overseas counterparts, such as the Industrial Development Board, for a number of years and this visit is the culmination of that work," Mr Carey said. He added that the North was a great place for New York companies to do business in and vice versa.
"This is a mutually beneficial partnership - the fact that people have the opportunity to meet face to face in Belfast will create confidence in each other because it is always helpful to know the person you are doing business with," he added.
He believes strategic relationships can develop into jobs and investment for both New York and Northern Ireland.
"US companies are coming to Northern Ireland to meet their mirror images in the high-tech and financial services sectors. But we are also encouraging Northern Ireland companies to look at the New York marketplace as an export opportunity and as a gateway in to the American economy," Mr Carey added.
