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US visit yields results for North
West
23.11.16
A TRADE delegation to
the US has already yielded results for the North
West with the establishment of a Boston office for
cross border company GoWalkTalk.
GoWalkTalk is a Derry-based healthcare management
solutions company with a joint partnership with
Donegal's Gartan Technologies and US firm Adashi
Systems.
The Ireland North West delegation, the first of its
kind to travel to Massachusetts, was a cross border,
cross agency visit involving Derry City and Strabane
District Council; Donegal County Council; Udaras na
Gaeltachta, Ulster University; Letterkenny Institute
of Technology and the North West Regional College as
well as 17 local businesses including O'Neill's
sportswear and Hanna Hats. |
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Members of the Ireland North West
delegation launch the Gateway to Growth programme in
Worcester, Massachusetts, last week. Included from
left, are Seamus Neely, Donegal County Council chief
executive; Tim Murray, CEO Worcester Regional
Chamber of Commerce; Mayor of Donegal Cllr Thomas
Slowey; Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District
Council, Alderman Hilary McClintock and John Kelpie,
CEO of Derry City and Strabane District Council. |
Donegal County Council
ceo Seamus Neely said potential US investors were
"very interested to hear that Ireland North West is
ranked in the top 10 economies in the world for ease
of doing business and starting a business". He said
they also heard about the region's strong and
diverse SME base, entrepreneurship and
cost-competitiveness.
"We went out there with a very clear message that
our unique location is our strength and how we
provide the only region that has a land border
between the UK and the rest of the EU," he said.
“Our young, well educated population with their
strong worth ethic, and the fact that 31% of our
school leavers are educated to degree level and have
right skills for employment, were very much of
interest to the businesses we spoke to," he added.
Derry Mayor Hilary McClintock said the visit was
"very significant" said the visit gave the
delegation "a real insight into the US market and
the opportunities that exist for development and
expansion".
Meanwhile, Orla Ward of O’Neill’s, Ireland’s largest
sportswear manufacturing company, said a number of
"very positive" leads were created with Boston
colleges and universities interested in quality
performance playing kits. |
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