North's deputy first minister leads mission to showcase NI in US on St Patrick’s Day

By Rebecca Black, Press Association in Philadelphia

The North's deputy first minister has spoken of her determination to showcase the region in Washington DC this St Patrick’s Day.

Emma Little-Pengelly will lead the mission for Northern Ireland in the US capital this week in First Minister Michelle O’Neill’s absence, while Taoiseach Micheál Martin his annual visit to the US for its national saint’s day.

O’Neill and other Sinn Féin representatives across Ireland are boycotting the White House for the second year in a row over US foreign policy about Gaza.

We have such a good story to tell. We deserve our place on the global stage and this week will be about making sure we maximise our full potential

The North's Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is also to take part in engagements in Washington this week, while Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald recently completed a visit to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows is to travel to the US, while SDLP leader Claire Hanna and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long have indicated they will stay away.

Little-Pengelly is set to attend a number of events, including a reception at the White House with US President Donald Trump, and the Speaker’s Luncheon in the US Capitol with Mr Trump and speaker Mike Johnson.

She is also set to host the Northern Ireland Bureau Breakfast which will be attended by more than 300 key stakeholders from politics, business, academic and cultural sectors.

Meanwhile, Lyon’s department has organised a special event alongside the America 250 Commission to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which will celebrate the specific connections between Northern Ireland and the US.

The deputy first minister said she will shine a spotlight on the region.

“St Patrick’s Week in Washington DC is a vital opportunity to showcase Northern Ireland as a great place to live, work, visit, study and invest,” she said.

“This week is also an opportunity to champion Northern Ireland businesses, strengthen trade links with the U.S. and support our companies to expand exports and build new partnerships.

“We are committed to developing a globally competitive and sustainable economy and want to partner with businesses, including in the US, to help us achieve that vision.

“Already 70 per cent of US businesses who have invested in Northern Ireland reinvest and expand and I want to continue to build on that.”

She added: “This week will be about shining a spotlight on what we have to offer.

“From meetings with the president, to engagements with key stakeholders, my focus will be on highlighting our position as world leaders in a range of key sectors including cyber security, FinTech, RegTech, advanced manufacturing and health sciences, as well as our skilled workforce and world class universities.

“Our businesses are now exporting to over 100 countries across the world; we are the second most competitive region in the UK for attracting inward investment; and we have been ranked number one in Europe for Foreign Direct Investment Strategy among mid-sized regions.

“We have such a good story to tell.

“We deserve our place on the global stage and this week will be about making sure we maximise our full potential.”