Northern Ireland Opens Boston Investment Office

1 June 1999

New Boston Investment Office to Help Northern Ireland

    BOSTON--June 1, 1999--The Northern Ireland Economy Minister, Adam Ingram, will today tell Boston business leaders that investment by U.S. technology companies, including many from New England, is helping bring peace and prosperity to Northern Ireland.
    Mr. Ingram is due to open the Industrial Development Board (IDB) for Northern Ireland's new investment office in Boston while addressing business leaders at a lunch sponsored by the Ireland Chamber of Commerce in the USA and Boston College's Irish Institute. He will also meet with Governor Paul Cellucci, who will be going to Northern Ireland on a trade visit later this month.
    Speaking before the opening, the Minister announced that the new office will be headed by James J. O'Connor. "Jim has more than 30 years experience in corporate America, both as a senior executive and an entrepreneur, in the health care technologies, aerospace and automotive industries," the minister said.
    "He will talk to company executives about the benefits of doing business in Northern Ireland and, just as importantly, speak their language.
    "And he has a great product to sell. In the last year Northern Ireland has almost doubled its share of investment coming into the United Kingdom and has become one of the most popular locations for U.S. corporations seeking a base from which to develop business in the vast European marketplace of almost 400 million people," he said.
    "Major international businesses have been quick to spot the outstanding business opportunities offered by the young, computer skilled and highly motivated workforce in the new Northern Ireland.
    "The new investors have also been influenced by the achievements in Northern Ireland of New England-based industry leaders such as Liberty Mutual, Segue Software, BCO Technologies and Stream International."
    O'Connor, who will be responsible for contacting companies in the six New England states and New York, said: "The Boston office will be spreading the message that there's never been a better time for U.S. companies to think about investing in Northern Ireland - it has the right people, right partners, right connections and is the right place for North American business."
    The IDB office in Boston is at 545 Boylston Street and is the fourth the agency has set up in the United States; the others are in Chicago, San Jose and Atlanta.
    Mr. Ingram is visiting Boston as part of a program of activities in the United States to promote Northern Ireland as an investment location. He will also visit Denver.