Greater economic cooperation across the island of Ireland is key to prosperity in Northern Ireland, according to Trade NI – the alliance of Retail NI, Manufacturing NI and Hospitality Ulster.
The three major trade bodies that make up the Trade NI alliance took that message to an audience of business leaders and investors assembled at Iveagh House, hosted by the Tánaiste Micheál Martin in Dublin.
The event builds on a series of significant events in Westminster in May and a week-long mission to Washington DC in March earlier this year.
The report from Trade NI said a more integrated approach would be good for inter-island trade and commerce, and strengthen the island of Ireland proposition internationally.
Micheál Martin said: “This report is an important contribution to understanding the potential of the Northern Ireland economy, and the impressive progress since the Good Friday Agreement.
“This success is itself testament to the adaptability and resilience of the business community, which has overcome numerous obstacles to shape Northern Ireland into the attractive destination it is today as a destination for business and investment.”
The leadership of Trade NI, Stephen Kelly of Manufacturing NI, Glyn Roberts of Retail NI and Colin Neill of Hospitality Ulster, added: “We only have to look at recent cross border business statistics, tourism numbers and trade to see how important all-island activity is to us in Northern Ireland and the potential it holds.
“There is recognition on both sides of the border on the benefits of the all-island proposition and our access to both the EU single market and the UK internal market which makes us strategically well placed.”