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Northern Ireland Office

Answer

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in attracting inward investors to the Limavady area in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. [193642] Mr. Gardiner: I refer the hon. Gentleman to earlier answers I provided to him on 12 October 2004, Official Report, column 232W, 16 June 2004, Official Report, column 965W, 8 June 2004, Official Report, column 349W and 28 April 2004, Official Report, column 1128W on this and closely-related subjects. Invest NI continues to focus its sales and marketing efforts on aggressively promoting Northern Ireland as an attractive and viable location for inward investment opportunities. It is difficult to predict in advance the nature of new projects and the needs of those promoting such projects, but the type of projects likely to locate in the north west will tend to be from those sectors where there are obvious clusters and strengths, such as ICT and call centres. Working with existing overseas investors in a region is a key function of Invest NI, and I am encouraged by the reinvestment earlier this year at Limavady by Huco Lightronic of Germany, promoting an additional 24 jobs. Invest NI has a target of 150 inward visits by potential investors during the current financial year ending 31 March 2005. While Invest NI encourages project promoters to visit as many potential locations as possible in all council areas of Northern Ireland, each visit programme is designed to meet investor requirements. When appropriate, the Limavady area will be included.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

193642; 426 c1762W;426 c1766W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Northern Ireland Foreign investment in UK Invest NI Limavady

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk