Sinéad McLaughlin Foyle MLA with Deputy Irish Ambassador Orla Keane at the Embassy of Ireland, Washington D.C.
At a visit to the Irish Embassy in Washington D.C., Ms. McLaughlin met with the Deputy Irish Ambassador Orla Keane and raised the need for greater investment in the North West and the economic potential of the region.
Said the Foyle MLA: “While Northern Ireland has come a long way since the violence of our past, there is little doubt that the economic dividend of our peace has still not been fully realised for all communities.
“Twenty-five years after the Agreement, our city still tops the league tables of unemployment, poverty and economic inactivity and the persistent economic imbalances between our region and the rest of the North is a damning indictment of the Executive’s economic strategy.
“Derry’s economy has huge untapped potential and our low cost of living, young population and unparalleled tourism offering, coupled with the unique opportunities of the Windsor Framework, are huge selling points.
“I was pleased to meet with the Deputy Irish Ambassador this week and promote the selling points of the North West as well as make the case for the opportunities of our region to be profiled at the inward investment conference which is intended to take place later this year.
“Derry people have so much ambition for our city, we just need it to be matched by the aspirations of our government.
“Of course, the sooner we have a government back up and running here to help us take advantage of those benefits the better.
“The re-establishment of an Executive is crucial if we are to get about the business of attracting the jobs and investment that we so badly need here in Derry.”
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