COUNCILS from Tyrone, Fermanagh, Armagh and Down are developing a new regional economic strategy to help drive growth across the north.
The move follows a meeting of representatives from 18 companies in Armagh city as part of a collaboration with the three councils in the mid and south west (MSW) region: Fermanagh and Omagh; Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon; and Mid Ulster.
They put forward their ideas as to how business growth can be maximised by using economic levers including the recently announced growth deal funding. Companies involved included Almac, Heron Bros, Strathroy Dairy, SDC, Balcas and Hyster-Yale Group.
The ideas will feed into the regional economic strategy, which will focus on improving productivity; creating more and better jobs; addressing economic infrastructure; growing investment; supporting business innovation; growing tourism and improving skills across the MSW region.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Mealla Campbell said: “The input of business is essential for us to develop a Regional Economic Strategy which smoothes the path for the MSW economy and will allow it to build on the progress it has made in the last few years. With the right support we can help these great businesses become even greater and cement this region’s reputation as an economic powerhouse.”
Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Cllr Siobhán Currie, added: “Business sits at the heart of the Mid, South and West Regional Economic Strategy so garnering their opinion at this early stage is essential to allow us to form a plan which really works. We will use their insight to utilise all the economic levers available to enable the region to flourish.”
Cllr Martin Kearney, chair of Mid Ulster District Council, said: “In order to ensure we develop a regional economic strategy which answers the needs of business, we have brought together the people who are driving the economy in the MSW region to gather their insight. That information will sit at the core of our planning for a more prosperous future for everyone across the three council areas.”
