A conference aimed at securing US investment in Northern Ireland ends today with top US business executives exploring what opportunities exist for them.
Among those touring potential investment sites are New York City Comptroller William Thompson. He announced last month that $150 million in pension funds will be ploughed into infrastructural projects in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Mr Thompson is in north Belfast to visit the site of the former Crumlin Road Jail and adjoining Girdwood Barracks, which has been earmarked for a regeneration project.
He will also meet Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams in west Belfast.
Yesterday, new Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Prime Minister Gordon Brown lent their support to the Northern Ireland Executive’s efforts to revitalise the Northern Ireland economy.
In his address yesterday, Mr Cowen asked 120 US business executives not to think about what they could do for Northern Ireland but to focus on what Northern Ireland could do for them.
The Fianna Fáil leader said he was delighted that one of his first engagements as Taoiseach brought him to Northern Ireland where there was "something truly special happening".
Mr Cowen also paid tribute to the work of the Stormont Executive. “There is a huge determination on the part of all of us to ensure the true economic potential of Northern Ireland is now unleashed.”
The conference has seen a number of investment announcements from companies like Bombardier Aerospace, Bloomberg, and the software firm CyberSource.
PA