Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly has said her visit to Washington DC for a series of events to mark St Patrick’s Week is an opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland on a global stage.
The deputy First Minister will attend a number of events including a reception at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump and the Speaker’s Luncheon in the U.S. Capitol with Speaker Mike Johnson and the President.
She will also host the NI Bureau Breakfast, during which she will address an audience of more than 300 key stakeholders including representatives from politics, business academia and cultural sectors.
She said: “St Patrick’s Week in Washington DC is a vital opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland as a great place to live, work, visit, study and invest. This week is also an opportunity to champion Northern Ireland businesses, strengthen trade links with the U.S. and support our companies to expand exports and build new partnerships.
“We are committed to developing a globally competitive and sustainable economy and want to partner with businesses, including in the U.S., to help us achieve that vision.
“Already 70% of U.S businesses who have invested in Northern Ireland reinvest and expand and I want to continue to build on that.
“So this week will be about shining a spotlight on what we have to offer. From meetings with the President, to engagements with key stakeholders, my focus will be on highlighting our position as world leaders in a range of key sectors including cyber security, FinTech, RegTech, advanced manufacturing and health sciences, as well as our skilled workforce and world class universities.
“Our businesses are now exporting to over 100 countries across the world; we are the second most competitive region in the UK for attracting inward investment; and we have been ranked number one in Europe for Foreign Direct Investment Strategy among mid-sized regions.
“We have such a good story to tell. We deserve our place on the global stage and this week will be about making sure we maximise our full potential.”
The deputy First Minister will also address a special event organised by the Department for Communities and the America 250 Commission to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
She said: “This special event will be an opportunity to commemorate a defining moment in global history and celebrate the enduring connections between NI and the U.S. which have been shaped by our rich cultural, historical and personal links.”
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