To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether the North West Gateway Initiative has met its initial aims and objectives to socially and economically improve the North West area, since 2006.

The North-West Gateway Initiative (NWGI) was established to encourage a more integrated and joined up approach to economic growth in the north-west for the mutual benefit of the entire region. The extent to which this objective has been advanced has formed part of a review of the North-West Gateway Initiative (NWGI) on which the views of stakeholders in the north-west were sought.

Responses received were positive and stakeholders have in particular welcomed the focus on the north-west by both the Northern Ireland Executive and the Republic of Ireland Government which the initiative has facilitated. The findings of the stakeholder consultation are now being considered and discussed with relevant departments as the next phase of the review.