21 January 2000

SIR REG EMPEY ADDRESSES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE IN STRABANE

"Future economic development in Northern Ireland will come mainly from local entrepreneurship and the development of indigenous industry," Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Investment, said today.

The Minister was addressing a round table conference on local economic development strategy organised by Strabane District Council and Strabane District Partnership.

He said: "The principle of encouraging and promoting self-help must underline everything we do. The fact that we are here today at this conference underlines Strabane’s commitment to advancing economic development.

"What will ultimately bring results is continuing self belief and the realisation that the future lies in your own hands. Government can play a role, but lasting change and development, must be driven by local communities.

"Strabane is to be congratulated on being ahead of the pack in developing a future strategy for the area and involving the key agencies in the process.

"As a small region in a global economy, Northern Ireland has to look outwards. Businesses need to be encouraged to benchmark themselves

against the most successful companies world-wide, to learn best practice and to explore every potential export market – the Republic, Europe, the US and beyond.

"We must ensure that the physical infrastructure needed by a growing economy – energy, telecommunications, transportation links internal and external – are as complete and efficient as we can make them.

"And it is vital to ensure that the benefits of economic progress and growth are widely and fairly shared within Northern Ireland. Only if we do so will we get the sense of social cohesion and common purpose that is needed to achieve the kind of economy we seek.

"There is a need for strong and effective partnership between public and private sectors in implementing economic development strategy. Strategy 2010, which was published last Spring, is an excellent beginning; it has shown that the willingness and energy to work together for common good is there in abundance.

"Strabane is showing that it is ready for the challenge of creating a local economy in which everyone has a stake," the Minister added.