Growing Northern Ireland’s economy is the focus of a visit by the First Minister and deputy First Minister to North Carolina.
Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly are leading a business mission to the US state, before Ms Little-Pengelly travels to Washington DC ahead of St Patrick’s Day.
Later this week, Taoiseach Micheal Martin is set to present US President Donald Trump with the traditional bowl of shamrock.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons and Health Minister Mike Nesbitt are also visiting Washington DC this week, while Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald is travelling to Boston and New York.
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On Monday, Ms O’Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly started their engagements with a visit to the Research Triangle Park (RTP).
They went on to visit the Poulton Innovation Centre at NC State University’s Centennial Campus before a series of political engagements, including meeting North Carolina’s secretary of state Elaine F Marshall and lieutenant governor Rachel Hunt.
The visit comes 12 months after the NI Chamber signed a NI Chamber’s memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Ms O’Neill said Northern Ireland had huge potential for investors.
“Growing our economy is our focus for this important visit as we develop business and investment opportunities, strengthening our partnership with North Carolina,” she said.
“We have close economic ties with US companies. We have welcomed over 1,300 international companies, creating thousands of good jobs in the process.
“We offer one of the most efficient business environments in Europe. We have a young, dynamic and highly skilled workforce with unique access to trade opportunities in Britain and Europe. The potential we offer is huge, and we compete on the world stage. That is the message I will be bringing to investors.”
Ms Little-Pengelly said: “The MOU between both chambers of commerce was built on the commitment to work together, to unlock new economic opportunities, drive innovation, and create lasting business relationships. And one year on, it is clear that this partnership is thriving.
“Building the connections between ourselves and the US is key to our economic growth and we are breaking new ground on this visit.
“There are such parallels between our economic strengths and the potential for this approach is huge. Our visit demonstrates our support for this approach as we recognise the benefits of the opportunity to come together, share expertise, explore new markets, and forge meaningful collaborations.”
Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of the NI Chamber, said it had been working intensively with business, academics and potential investors in North Carolina over the last year.
“Now, we are seeing that translate into game-changing opportunities for joint investments and expanding business footprints, research partnerships and alliances,” she said.
“This mission is about expanding those new relationships further and together, showcasing Northern Ireland and North Carolina as regions of joint business opportunity.
“Our MOU with NC Chamber has garnered significant political interest on both sides of the Atlantic, and we are delighted that on our return visit, we are accompanied by the First Minister and deputy First Minister, as well as universities and business leaders.
“Our mission is about making business-to-business connections, learning from best practices and business and politicians together pitching Northern Ireland as a unique and compelling place to invest and do business.”