WITH a population of nearly half-a-million people and unique connectivity across Ireland, the UK, and EU, the North West City Region has enormous untapped potential.
Derry is one of Ireland’s largest cities, but decades of neglect have caused us to fall behind our counterparts in Belfast and Dublin. Neglect that shows itself in our poor infrastructure, higher poverty rates, and lower employment rates compared to other similarly sized regions.
Writing last month, esteemed economist John FitzGerald gave a damning indictment of the north west’s disregard by policy-makers. John is correct that while progress is being made on Ulster University Magee’s expansion and improvements in road infrastructure, movement is slow and without urgency.
And while we continue to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) with international companies locating here, support fails to be regionally balanced.
As FitzGerald writes in the conclusion of his piece, Derry and Donegal are remain firmly intertwined. One cannot succeed without the other, which is why we have built a strong partnership with the Letterkenny Chamber in recent years.
On a local government, business, and community level, we recognise that the issues we face do not stop at the border and require meaningful partnerships in action.
Our 64th President’s annual lunch at the City Hotel, sponsored by Alchemy Technology Services, had its theme as “Sharing Success in the North West”, a celebration of the strong links our city region has across the UK and Ireland. Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney TD addressed Chamber members, politicians, and invited guests from across the north west in what was another fantastic occasion.
Foreign Affairs Minister Coveney has shown strong commitment to the stability of political institutions here. Now, with another political crisis upon us, the collaborative spirit which guided the New Decade, New Approach Agreement is needed more than ever.
Outstanding commitments like the expansion of Magee to 10,000 students and the full roll-out of City Deal simply cannot be lost due to an empty Stormont.
The Assembly election is weeks away, and with Covid-19 restrictions in the rear-view mirror, it is crucial that recovery and rebuild of our economy and hard-hit businesses becomes the focus of the incoming Executive.
The structural and economic issues stifling Derry’s progress are not permanent, and with bold, strategic, long-term investment in key sectors, the North West’s potential can be unleashed.
Politics has often been cited as the art of the possible, that governance is not about your ideological vision or goals, it’s about what you can get done.
The cycles of instability that have characterised Stormont institutions are achieving nothing for the North West.
A significant step change is needed to give businesses the stability, certainty, and confidence that they can fulfil their business ambitions here. Our politicians must now act to make this possible.
:: Aidan O’Kane is president of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce
