Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Conor Murphy visits Boston and re-affirms the Executive's commitment to driving the economy

Published: 13 October, 2009

Local Sinn Féin MP and Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy continues to make progress during a partnership building trip to Boston. So far on this visit the Minister has addressed the important Gateways to Tomorrow Boston - North West Ireland Conference, and has been meeting with a wide range of government, business, academic and community leaders.

Today the Minister is to give an address at the Golden Bridges business lunch as part of the conference. Speaking in advance of this the Minister said: "Today I will be taking the opportunity to highlight the achievements of the Executive since restoration in 2007 and outline our investment plans for the future. Our priorities are investment in Enterprise. This is two-way which includes the need to invest to export, and the need to attract foreign direct investment. As Minister for Regional Development I will of course be highlighting the need for investment in our infrastructure.

"There is no doubt that as the global economy recovers in the time ahead, that we need to build sustainable links and co-operation now with the United States and create new opportunities for investment and partnership to maximise benefits for our own local economy."

Yesterday, the Minister visited the world-class Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), an independent public authority which develops promotes and manages airports, the seaport and transportation infrastructure to enable Massachusetts and New England to compete successfully in the global marketplace.

Speaking after his meeting with the Chief Executive of Massport, Mike Leone, Conor Murphy said: "The visit to Massport has been very useful and informative. We have found many areas of common interest to discuss, particularly the development and operation of more sustainable approaches to transport. Those of us on the visit to Massport, including the Chairman and Chief Executive of Derry Port picked up many useful examples of innovation and best practice which will help us as we work to develop our infrastructure at home."

The Minister also spoke at a lunch engagement with the Harvard Institute for International Urban Development. He paid tribute to the outstanding contribution made by the Institute and the associated International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD) to the development of a collaborative approach to spatial planning on the island of Ireland.

He said: "ICLRD have played an important role in helping us to interpret at sub-regional level the overarching spatial strategies for the island of Ireland. With their help we have created proposals for a new All-Ireland framework going forward."

In the remaining days of his visit the Minister will visit the former industrial city of Lawrence and a major regeneration project at Union Crossing. He will also attend a reception in the Massachusetts State House hosted by Senator Eugene Flaherty.