Former US president Bill Clinton is to visit Ireland at the end of the month, it was announced today.
During his visit, he will travel to Northern Ireland to support an economic mission being promoted by his wife, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
US economic envoy to Northern Ireland Declan Kelly was in Belfast today, where he confirmed Mr Clinton would visit Ireland in the coming weeks.
Mr Kelly said the former president was anxious to support the US efforts to promote economic development in Northern Ireland.
“He remains passionately interested in Northern Ireland and wants to do something to shine a focus on the economic potential of the region,” said Mr Kelly.
Mr Kelly also said that while the dissident paramilitary threat was a consideration for US investors, it would not deter them from establishing operations in Northern Ireland.
Details of his itinerary have yet to be completed.
Mr Clinton’s visit comes ahead of the US-Northern Ireland economic conference in Washington on October 19th.
Mr Kelly said the Washington conference would be attended by about 75 people, including First Minister Peter Robinson, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, senior US executives, representatives of Invest Northern Ireland and other politicians.
