To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what criteria which she is using to promote Northern Ireland and attract Foreign Investment.

It is the combination of many factors that make Northern Ireland a world-class investment opportunity. Invest NI has a very successful track record of attracting high quality Foreign Direct Investment.

The Northern Ireland investment proposition is based on: a skilled, highly-educated and loyal workforce with a low turnover rate; an advanced economic infrastructure in terms of airports, harbours, motorways and high-speed electronic communications; competitive operating costs including labour and property; a high quality of life including a low crime rate, ready access to both city and countryside, leisure and cultural activities; a strategic location close to major markets in Great Britain and the European mainland; support from a world-class business development agency; and a successful track record of attracting and supporting investors

Invest NI has a global reach with offices located in four main geographic regions of Europe & Russia, the Americas, India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) and Asia Pacific. The agency uses a variety of means in those overseas markets to promote Northern Ireland as a location to meet the needs of overseas investors and help their businesses grow and thrive. The Northern Ireland Executive is fully supportive of those efforts, with the main objective my own overseas visits, along with those by the First Minister, deputy First Minister and other Executive Colleagues, being the promotion of opportunities for Foreign Direct Investment and exports.

Northern Ireland has to work hard to attract investment in what is a highly competitive global market. Our skills base has proved highly attractive to companies operating in knowledge-based sectors (Business and Professional Services, Financial Services and ICT/software). This is maintained by excellent universities and higher education colleges, together with initiatives such as the Assured Skills programme operated by the Department of Employment and Learning.

This point was emphasised by Jeremiah Grossman, the Chief Executive of US-based Whitehat Security, which recently announced its intention to create 80 new jobs in Belfast. Mr Grossman commented that the opportunity to recruit high calibre graduates and professionals and Northern Ireland’s excellent telecommunications infrastructure were the crucial factors in the company’s location decision.