Stormont Ministers Embark on US Trip for St Patrick's Day Festivities

A number of Stormont ministers are travelling to the United States this week ahead of the annual St Patrick's Day celebrations. While First Minister Michelle O'Neill will boycott the events in Washington DC, she has travelled with the deputy First Minister to North Carolina where they are leading a delegation of local businesses to showcase the local economy.

Growing Economic Partnerships
First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “Growing our economy is our focus for this important visit as we develop business and investment opportunities, strengthening our partnership with North Carolina. We have close economic ties with U.S. companies. We have welcomed over 1,300 international companies, creating thousands of good jobs in the process.

Strengthening US Ties
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: “Building the connections between ourselves and the U.S. 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.

Promoting Northern Ireland's Potential
Meanwhile, Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald is visiting Boston and New York alongside Invest NI to promote Northern Ireland as a leading location for innovation, investment, and international trade, as well as a great place to visit. She will meet with senior executives from key US investors and engage with business leaders, potential new investors, and industry networks.