Minister Flanagan announces regional meeting in Derry
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, TD, today announced details of the Derry element of the Global Irish Economic Forum which will take place on November 19 ahead of the Dublin Castle events on 20-21 November. The Derry programme of events has been arranged in partnership with Northern Ireland Science Park, Letterkenny IT, Northern Irish Connections, Derry City and Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council.
Speaking today from Derry following the successful conclusion of political talks he co-chaired in Belfast, Minister Flanagan said:
“The Global Irish Economic Forum has been an important element of our recovery, generating job-creating initiatives, deepening our links with the global Irish and helping to restore our international reputation.
“Today’s agreement contains much good news for Derry. The Irish Government has committed €110m to the A5 road and North West Development Fund.
“This year’s Forum looks to our future prosperity and economic resilience. This regional event will offer a particularly good opportunity to showcase the North-West region.”
The fourth Global Irish Economic Forum will take place from 19-21 November and will focus on a number of Government priorities including encouraging entrepreneurship, supporting businesses to scale up and creating jobs through growing Irish exports. The Forum will bring together more than 300 leading Irish and Irish-connected figures from across the globe to help support Ireland’s recovery. A strong all-island approach will be ensured with regional events in Galway, Laois, Limerick and Derry.
The Global Irish Economic Forum is organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Minister Flanagan added:
“I am pleased that this year’s programme includes regional events to be held in Derry, which will showcase the vibrant startup scene in the North West region, innovative local social enterprises fostering young talent and the wider North West collaboration on economic development and diaspora outreach.”
The Innovation Centre, Fort George, part of the EU-funded cross-border North West Regional Science Park, will be the location of a series of meetings bringing together members of the Global Irish Network and local representatives of a number of innovative social enterprises along with start-ups and SMEs based in the Regional Science Park facilities in Fort George, Derry and in the Letterkenny IT Co-Lab.
A working lunch hosted by the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council in Ulster University, Magee Campus, will provide a platform to hear from diaspora outreach initiatives in the region including Northern Irish Connections and Council programmes.
Members of the Network who will participate in the Derry regional meeting of the Forum include Peter Casey, Executive Chairman, Claddagh Resources, Elizabeth Francis, Founder, Atelier Francis, Colin McClatchie, Chairman, Prescient, Caroline Murphy, Siam Piwat Co Ltd, Stella O’Leary, President, Irish American Democrats, Dr. Susan Walsh, Director, Globe Business College Munich and Naomi Scott, Chief Representative, Anglo American Mozambique.
ENDS
Press Office
17 November 2015
Notes for Editors:
Further details on the Global Irish Economic Forum can be found here: https://global.irish/