The opportunities presented by Northern Ireland’s dual market access are to be showcased to investors on a tour of European countries, the Economy minister has said.
Conor Murphy told the Assembly he would attending the first event in Germany next month.
Mr Murphy has recently returned from a tour of North America where he was also promoting the dual market access proposition on visits to Chicago and Toronto.
Under post-Brexit trading arrangements, Northern Ireland businesses can sell freely into both the Great Britain market and the EU single market.
“Maximising the opportunities associated with dual market access is key to growing our prosperity,” Mr Murphy told MLAs during question time.
“Invest NI promotes dual market access, the dual market access proposition, through its networks of overseas offices in Europe and beyond, it has developed a European programme that will showcase the north as an investment destination.
“This programme includes a comprehensive online marketing campaign and a series of in-person events, the first of which I will personally attend in Germany in October.
“Further events are planned for the Netherlands and Belgium.
“Locally, I want to see our businesses take advantage of dual market access, accordingly my officials have initiated a forum with business representatives to co-design support and guidance to navigate this new regulatory environment and maximise our unique trading opportunities.”
Narrow Water Point and Warrenpoint Port where the Newry River flows out to Carlingford Lough and the UK and Republic of Ireland share a border through the lough (Liam McBurney/PA)
The issue was raised by Alliance MLA Michelle Guy, who also asked for an update on efforts to secure investment in North America.
Mr Murphy said the market access offering was a “very frequent topic of discussion” with investors he met on the trip across the Atlantic.
DUP MLA Phillip Brett said recent data showed that output in the manufacturing sector had dropped.
He said that showed that dual market access had “not brought any benefit to the Northern Ireland economy”.
He said the major growth area in the local economy was the services sector, which is not covered by post-Brexit trading arrangements.
In light of the data, Mr Brett asked Mr Murphy was he also focusing on building links within the UK internal market.
The minister replied: “Access to both markets is the key to the dual market access benefit that will flow to us, and we will ensure that companies have as least barriers as possible in terms of east west trade, as well as north south and into Europe trade.”
He said manufacturing companies were “facing challenges” due to “historically high inflation for raw materials and rising wage and energy bills”.
But the minister insisted data indicated it was still an “improving picture” for the manufacturing sector.