PRESIDENT HEARS PLEA FOR HELP FROM PEOPLE OF OMAGH
President hears plea for help from Omagh business people
By Jim Fitzpatrick
Business Editor
PRESIDENT Clinton yesterday promised the continuing support of America in bringing prosperity to Northern Ireland and heard a direct plea from the business community in Omagh to remember their town.
In his address at Belfast's Waterfront Hall he cited examples of economic progress made since the ceasefires, such as the large increase in passengers to Belfast International Airport and the doubling of hotel rooms under construction.
"In peace you can find new prosperity and I heard your leaders beseeching it," he said.
"In the wake of the Good Friday agreement you are projected to receive record levels of investment, foreign and domestic, bringing new jobs, opportunity, and hope.
"The United States has supported your quest for peace, starting with Irish Americans whose commitment to this cause is passionate, profound, and enduring," he said.
He also paid tribute to his special advisor on economic initiatives for Northern Ireland, Jim Lyons, who also sits on the International Fund for Ireland. The IF1 had received "extraordinary support" from America, he said, totalling $100 million over the last five years.
Earlier, First Minister David Trimble told Mr Clinton that the political and economic links between the US and Northern Ireland "must continue to develop".
"Northern Ireland can become the gateway to Europe. We have uniquely talented and enthusiastic young people, a government committed to enterprise, qualities that are second to none.
"I say to you and your fellow countrymen today, as the leader of Northern Ireland, visit here and we will welcome you, invest here and we will work with you. If they did not already know it, let the rest of the world take note -Northern Ireland is back in business."
This message was underlined by Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon: "We will build a new future based on the skills, creativity and character of our people.
"Our young people are a source of hope for our future. Consequently, we will give priority to education, sharing Prime Minister Blair's view that 'unless we get our education system right our children will not be prosperous and our country will not be just.'
"We will use education and training to combat exclusion and inequality. Most importantly, we know that in the now information-based global economy, jobs and investment flow to those regions which are rich in skills, and which have a modern technological infrastructure.
"We will seek to work with our American and with our European partners to create here in Northern Ireland the most attractive conditions for growth and investment."
In Omagh, Mr Clinton accepted a letter from the Omagh Chamber of Commerce which asked him to do what he could to steer investment to the town.
"Our minds are not on commerce and trade but on those we have lost, the injured and those who may not work again. But we cannot stand still.
"So, as we take the first steps to rebuild Omagh and its economy we are comforted by the good wishes of tens of thousands of your fellow countrymen and women and well wishers from around the world. We know their thoughts are with us as we begin our long journey of renewal.
"We are a people of good faith and this is a good country, but as you have come to share our grief, we are not ashamed to ask for your help. Ireland has always welcomed American investment and US companies with the faith to invest in Northern Ireland and its people have prospered.
Referring to next month's 11-city Investment tour of the US, it continued: "As Omagh has a significant unemployment problem we request that you tell your business leaders about us so that they might give serious consideration to our town as a location in which to site a manufacturing plant.
"You can tell them of our determination to rebuild our economic base, about the good community relations which exist and the abundance of skilled people available. This would be of great practical and long-term benefit to us."We understand the turmoil of world politics and global economics which demand your attention and your time. In that knowledge we are the more comforted that you have remembered a small town and its problems.
By Jim Fitzpatrick
Business Editor
PRESIDENT Clinton yesterday promised the continuing support of America in bringing prosperity to Northern Ireland and heard a direct plea from the business community in Omagh to remember their town.
In his address at Belfast's Waterfront Hall he cited examples of economic progress made since the ceasefires, such as the large increase in passengers to Belfast International Airport and the doubling of hotel rooms under construction.
"In peace you can find new prosperity and I heard your leaders beseeching it," he said.
"In the wake of the Good Friday agreement you are projected to receive record levels of investment, foreign and domestic, bringing new jobs, opportunity, and hope.
"The United States has supported your quest for peace, starting with Irish Americans whose commitment to this cause is passionate, profound, and enduring," he said.
He also paid tribute to his special advisor on economic initiatives for Northern Ireland, Jim Lyons, who also sits on the International Fund for Ireland. The IF1 had received "extraordinary support" from America, he said, totalling $100 million over the last five years.
Earlier, First Minister David Trimble told Mr Clinton that the political and economic links between the US and Northern Ireland "must continue to develop".
"Northern Ireland can become the gateway to Europe. We have uniquely talented and enthusiastic young people, a government committed to enterprise, qualities that are second to none.
"I say to you and your fellow countrymen today, as the leader of Northern Ireland, visit here and we will welcome you, invest here and we will work with you. If they did not already know it, let the rest of the world take note -Northern Ireland is back in business."
This message was underlined by Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon: "We will build a new future based on the skills, creativity and character of our people.
"Our young people are a source of hope for our future. Consequently, we will give priority to education, sharing Prime Minister Blair's view that 'unless we get our education system right our children will not be prosperous and our country will not be just.'
"We will use education and training to combat exclusion and inequality. Most importantly, we know that in the now information-based global economy, jobs and investment flow to those regions which are rich in skills, and which have a modern technological infrastructure.
"We will seek to work with our American and with our European partners to create here in Northern Ireland the most attractive conditions for growth and investment."
In Omagh, Mr Clinton accepted a letter from the Omagh Chamber of Commerce which asked him to do what he could to steer investment to the town.
"Our minds are not on commerce and trade but on those we have lost, the injured and those who may not work again. But we cannot stand still.
"So, as we take the first steps to rebuild Omagh and its economy we are comforted by the good wishes of tens of thousands of your fellow countrymen and women and well wishers from around the world. We know their thoughts are with us as we begin our long journey of renewal.
"We are a people of good faith and this is a good country, but as you have come to share our grief, we are not ashamed to ask for your help. Ireland has always welcomed American investment and US companies with the faith to invest in Northern Ireland and its people have prospered.
Referring to next month's 11-city Investment tour of the US, it continued: "As Omagh has a significant unemployment problem we request that you tell your business leaders about us so that they might give serious consideration to our town as a location in which to site a manufacturing plant.
"You can tell them of our determination to rebuild our economic base, about the good community relations which exist and the abundance of skilled people available. This would be of great practical and long-term benefit to us."We understand the turmoil of world politics and global economics which demand your attention and your time. In that knowledge we are the more comforted that you have remembered a small town and its problems.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0363
Published Date: 04-Sep-98
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