8 November 2005
MINISTER FORGES ECONOMIC LINKS WITH TAR HEEL STATE
What have the "Tar Heel" state in the USA and Northern Ireland got in common?
The answer to the question is that Northern Ireland has been benchmarking its workforce development policies against best practices in North Carolina because of their similar economic climates.
Arriving in Belfast at the start of a week's fact-finding tour, a group of five high -level delegates from the States is examining our treatment of essential skills, further education, workforce development, biotechnology and long term unemployment.
Included in the party are two senior representatives from North Carolina's Employment Securities Commission, which seeks to promote and sustain the economic well being of the State in the world marketplace.
Welcoming the visitors to Northern Ireland, Employment and Learning Minister Angela Smith said: "Skills and workforce development are key issues globally and I am keen to share experiences with the visitors as we develop a skills strategy for Northern Ireland. As well as sharing best practice on these policies, we are together exploring the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to forecast future labour needs between Northern Ireland and North Carolina."
The visitors have been briefed by senior officials from the Department for Employment and Learning and they were guests of honour at a dinner last night, hosted by the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges.
Their programme during the week will include visits to Universities, Further Education Colleges, Jobs and Benefits Offices, employers and the Careers Service.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Though shrouded in mystery, the "Tar Heel" title is thought to come from the colonial period when the State's chief exports were tar, pitch and turpentine.
2. Media enquiries to the Department for Employment and Learning's Press Office on 028 9025 7790.
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