An international trade and education project, based at Charleville Castle, Tullamore, has won Government funding for a five-year period.
The Atlantic Corridor Project involves the midlands and three partners in New York, Ontario and Northern Ireland's lower Bann region. It was set up to help small and medium businesses to benefit from linkages across these regions. Organisations in the business, education, culture and health sectors are already taking part.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said the Government would be providing the project with £800,000 over the next five years. He added that he was particularly pleased with the cross-Border element. "It's a further example of people on this island working together for the benefit of all," he said.
The programme is about making contacts and exchanging views and expertise, according to Cllr John Flanagan, chairman of the Offaly Regeneration Company, which is behind the project. He said it would give companies the opportunity to gain a foothold in the American or European markets, through contacts with Atlantic Corridor members.
The project would also help companies to improve their marketing and technological expertise.
"One of the most beneficial areas so far is the health sector," he said. The new linkages would help hospitals source the most advanced health equipment abroad and would provide staff with training and video conferencing facilities.
"Why should they give us this help? They, in turn, will benefit from our expertise. Our well educated workforce is recognised all over the world," he said.
Education would also benefit from the project, he added. "We already have American students in Tullamore doing courses and we hope to develop that further. Student exchanges will be a valuable part of the project."
He said the linkages were not being provided by State agencies at present. Now agencies such as Enterprise Ireland would help Atlantic Corridor in identifying companies which would benefit from the project. "We would encourage companies to contact us if they are interested in exchanging views and information," he said.
The Minister, Mr Cowen, said bodies such as the Midland Health Board had already made valuable contacts as part of the project.
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