25th June 1999

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More than 200 new jobs are going to be created in Londonderry as a result of work carried out by the Derry Investment Initiative.

The announcement was made at the final session of the University of Ulster's three-day international conference in the city on 'Economies Emerging from Conflict' by the Director of Operations for the Initiative, Dr Barney Toal. At that session the President of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, John McDaid said the peace process must continue and he urged politicians to settle their differences. 'The real prize is peace and look what we could lose out on if the current talks don't succeed.' he said.

Dr Toal said he was confident that the announcement about new jobs would be made shortly. He said they had exceeded their jobs target for the past twelve months and the new jobs were as a direct result of the Initiatives representations in the US.

And he revealed that they were planning an export trade mission to Arizona in October involving local information technology companies. As well as establishing trade links for those companies the mission would also be emphasising the attractions of Derry as the gateway to Europe.

Dr Toal said he was delighted with the success of the conference particularly in the announcement of the setting up of the Massport Trade Office for the whole of Ireland in the city and the two million pound international business centre at Magee College. He said the Massport office was a direct result of work on the Initiative and they would be working very closely with the Massport Office and the new business centre at the University to attract inward investment to the city.

During the conference, which was organized by the University of Ulster, Mr James Lyons Special Advisor to the President of the United States and the Secretary of State for Economic Initiatives in Ireland said another trade mission from Colorado was due in Northern Ireland in July.

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk