ITS VITAL THAT RIGHT MESSAGE GOES TO US
It's vital that right message goes to US
By Ann Shaw
Chairman IoD
BETWEEN the Clinton visit and the first meeting of the new Assembly, September promises no shortage of activity. However, with just a couple of days to go before the President arrives for what the White house has described as 'nothing more than a golfing weekend' it is far from clear just how profitable the activity might turn out to be.
Not surprisingly, there have been suggestions that Clinton's decision to visit Omagh, if not the entire trip, has more to do with shifting the US media focus away from the President's domestic problems. Even though the visit was planned well before the Omagh murders and the revelations from the Grand Jury, the influx of US media suggests that is exactly what will happen.
Nevertheless, regardless of motive, when one of the most important people in the world decides to come to Northern Ireland we ought to make the most of the opportunity. IDB has already nailed its colours to the mast and said -assuming the peace process holds- it will deliver 18,000 new foreign direct investment (FDI) jobs over the next three years.
It is fair to assume that the majority of those jobs will come from US corporations.
It is also fair to assume that the presidents and CEOs of the target companies are none too impressed with the state of the peace process after Omagh.
This time next month the IDB roadshow gets underway in the US, intent on persuading corporate America that Northern Ireland is the right place for FDI.
Selling Northern Ireland was always a difficult task. How easy or hard that sell will be next month may hinge on how successful this week's Clinton visit is perceived by the President himself, his political advisors and the press.
It is important -arguably essential- that the US media beams back a message which clearly says that Omagh was the end.
But even that message is not enough. The US team and their press corps need to see clear evidence that the Assembly can deliver on the Good Friday Agreement and that elected Assembly members are speaking the language of the Agreement.
The IDB team- including members of the Assembly- heading for the USA next month could not ask for a better run-up to their visit than this week's Clinton visit.
If there are clear signs that deals can be done and violence is clearly and loudly condemned from all sides, selling Northern Ireland will be much, much easier.
Courting US business now is doubly important. The Asian crisis is worsening, with Russia contributing to even greater economic uncertainty.
Projected world growth this year- forecast as 4 per cent before the Asian crisis- has been slashed in half. The Russian crisis will make even that figure seem optimistic, with even the start of the Euro single currency on 1 January being threatened.
The implications for the US and UK economies are not good. Some economists have predicted that falling world growth could provide an outlook as grim as 1981-82 and the aftermath of the two oil crises in the 1970s. Under any circumstances, this is not the best time to trawl the world for FDI.
So, if next month's US investment trip is to open doors, this week's Clinton visit must send back advance news that Northern Ireland is worth a close look. How that message is delivered, or if it gets delivered at all, could depend on the Assembly members.
With the Assembly due to begin its formal life whilst the IDB trade mission is in the USA, even its first days will be guaranteed heavy media coverage in America.
With everything that has happened since the referendum there is an expectation amongst the people in Northern Ireland that the Assembly will get down to the business of delivering on the Agreement they all signed.
There will also be an expectation further afield that the Assembly will get down to business.
With the world economy in decline, the UK and USA have been described as the only real havens of stability.
Making the most of the Clinton visit could just tip the scales when US business leaders are asked to make commitments next month. The people who have the greatest opportunity to influence the outcome of both events are our elected politicians. This is their first test and the world's media will be watching.
By Ann Shaw
Chairman IoD
BETWEEN the Clinton visit and the first meeting of the new Assembly, September promises no shortage of activity. However, with just a couple of days to go before the President arrives for what the White house has described as 'nothing more than a golfing weekend' it is far from clear just how profitable the activity might turn out to be.
Not surprisingly, there have been suggestions that Clinton's decision to visit Omagh, if not the entire trip, has more to do with shifting the US media focus away from the President's domestic problems. Even though the visit was planned well before the Omagh murders and the revelations from the Grand Jury, the influx of US media suggests that is exactly what will happen.
Nevertheless, regardless of motive, when one of the most important people in the world decides to come to Northern Ireland we ought to make the most of the opportunity. IDB has already nailed its colours to the mast and said -assuming the peace process holds- it will deliver 18,000 new foreign direct investment (FDI) jobs over the next three years.
It is fair to assume that the majority of those jobs will come from US corporations.
It is also fair to assume that the presidents and CEOs of the target companies are none too impressed with the state of the peace process after Omagh.
This time next month the IDB roadshow gets underway in the US, intent on persuading corporate America that Northern Ireland is the right place for FDI.
Selling Northern Ireland was always a difficult task. How easy or hard that sell will be next month may hinge on how successful this week's Clinton visit is perceived by the President himself, his political advisors and the press.
It is important -arguably essential- that the US media beams back a message which clearly says that Omagh was the end.
But even that message is not enough. The US team and their press corps need to see clear evidence that the Assembly can deliver on the Good Friday Agreement and that elected Assembly members are speaking the language of the Agreement.
The IDB team- including members of the Assembly- heading for the USA next month could not ask for a better run-up to their visit than this week's Clinton visit.
If there are clear signs that deals can be done and violence is clearly and loudly condemned from all sides, selling Northern Ireland will be much, much easier.
Courting US business now is doubly important. The Asian crisis is worsening, with Russia contributing to even greater economic uncertainty.
Projected world growth this year- forecast as 4 per cent before the Asian crisis- has been slashed in half. The Russian crisis will make even that figure seem optimistic, with even the start of the Euro single currency on 1 January being threatened.
The implications for the US and UK economies are not good. Some economists have predicted that falling world growth could provide an outlook as grim as 1981-82 and the aftermath of the two oil crises in the 1970s. Under any circumstances, this is not the best time to trawl the world for FDI.
So, if next month's US investment trip is to open doors, this week's Clinton visit must send back advance news that Northern Ireland is worth a close look. How that message is delivered, or if it gets delivered at all, could depend on the Assembly members.
With the Assembly due to begin its formal life whilst the IDB trade mission is in the USA, even its first days will be guaranteed heavy media coverage in America.
With everything that has happened since the referendum there is an expectation amongst the people in Northern Ireland that the Assembly will get down to the business of delivering on the Agreement they all signed.
There will also be an expectation further afield that the Assembly will get down to business.
With the world economy in decline, the UK and USA have been described as the only real havens of stability.
Making the most of the Clinton visit could just tip the scales when US business leaders are asked to make commitments next month. The people who have the greatest opportunity to influence the outcome of both events are our elected politicians. This is their first test and the world's media will be watching.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/251
Published Date: 01-Sep-98
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.