In January, Belfast Harbour launched its new strategy, Advance Regional Prosperity 2025-2029, outlining an ambitious programme to invest more than £300m in capital projects over the next five years.
It plans £208m in port developments and improvements and £105m in the ongoing regeneration and development of the Harbour Estate and waterfront. This includes the largest single capital project ever undertaken by Belfast Harbour, a proposed £90m investment in a new deepwater quay.
Belfast Harbour is Northern Ireland’s leading gateway and a key economic hub for trade and tourism, handling more than 70% of the region’s seaborne imports and exports and 25% of sea trade for the entire island of Ireland. The 2,000-acre Harbour Estate also hosts more than five million annual visits, including over two million ferry and cruise ship passengers.
Our position as a key enabler of economic growth makes the Excellence in Exporting Award the perfect category for Belfast Harbour to sponsor at this year’s Belfast Telegraph Business Awards.
We serve not only Belfast but all regions of Northern Ireland and further afield by facilitating the steady flow of trade and goods – from stone for road building, to fresh produce, to products from new and emerging industries, such as gym and fitness equipment.
Business Telegraph Business Awards
Belfast Harbour Estate is also a hub of innovation and home to a vibrant mix of 760 businesses, including companies in innovative industries like advanced manufacturing, marine logistics and heavy engineering, commercial and residential real estate, retail, financial and IT services, tourism and leisure, media and creative industries – many of whom produce products and services which are exported around the world.
We work closely with our customers and tenants to fulfil the exporting and entrepreneurial potential of businesses in the region and recognise that supporting and growing our exporting businesses is important for encouraging economic growth.
In doing this, we are not only providing a gateway to trade, we are also advancing regional prosperity to benefit our people and communities and helping to deliver the ambitions of the NI Executive and Belfast City Council.
Belfast Harbour
As a Trust Port that reinvests profits for the benefit of everyone in Northern Ireland, we are passionate about ensuring that the economic growth delivered by Belfast Harbour is mirrored in our sustainability and responsible business activity and engagement with local communities. Delivering a positive social impact is at the heart of our decision making, as we develop sustainably, protect our environment and connect communities.
Our significant investment each year in grassroots community engagement and local charities is just one strand of our responsible business activity in action.
Our new strategy also has the overarching goal of accelerating to net zero, with many steps already taken to invest in biodiversity projects.
Belfast Harbour has made £374m of investments in the past decade, to ensure the continued development of competitive and resilient port. Looking forward, we are investing to position Belfast Harbour as a key player in the industries of the future – including offshore wind.
We would encourage innovative exporting businesses across Northern Ireland to make the most of the opportunity to showcase their success and continued growth within the export markets.
We look forward to recognising and celebrating the impact and contribution of these businesses at this year’s Belfast Telegraph Business Awards.
To enter, go to www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/businessawards/enter