Ugandan High Commissioner visits Ballymena

After spending last Monday visiting the NI Assembly, touring the Titanic Quarter and taking lunch with the Managing Director of Hastings Hotel at the Europa in Belfast, Her Excellency headed for Ballymena.

She rounded off her two-day stay with a fact finding trip to WrightBus where she met with Ballymena Mayor Hubert Nichol and the founder of WrightBus William Wright.

Mr Paisley said the trip was “a wonderful success” and that trade discussions are to follow between WrightBus and the Ugandan High Commission.

The High Commissioner said: “I was overwhelmed by the warm welcome and exceptional hospitality I received throughout my visit to Northern Ireland and in particular in Mr Paisley’s constituency of North Antrim.

“I must also convey my profound thanks to David McIlveen MLA and Howard Hastings, Managing Director of Hastings Hotels for the very fruitful discussions and warm hospitality.

“As agreed during our discussions, the High Commission in London will follow up with the business discussions with William Wright of the WrightBus and Conall McDevitt MLA (Chair of All Party Group on International Development) and Sheila McClelland, Head of Outreach and Education, Northern Ireland Assembly.

“I can only describe my visit as truly memorably, enjoyable and productive,” she said.

Ian Paisley MP added: “It was an absolute pleasure to have the Ugandan High Commissioner visit Northern Ireland and in particular to have the opportunity to bring her to my constituency. North Antrim is well known for its outstanding hospitality and I think the High Commissioner got a true sense of that during her time here, especially as she stayed in Galgorm Resort and Spa.

“It was also a fantastic opportunity to introduce her to William Wright of the WrightBus Group and I believe the trade discussions between WrightBus and the Ugandan High Commission will be extremely positive for the area. Manufacturing is vital to the North Antrim economy and in tough economic times I will do everything I can to support these industries”.

Following the visit David McIlveen MLA said: “Visits like this are extremely important for North Antrim and Northern Ireland as a whole. The High Commissioner had some extremely useful discussions with the Speaker, the Health Minister and other MLAs.

“I am delighted that we are able to show the High Commissioner some good old-fashioned North Antrim hospitality, but also that the visit to WrightBus was so successful. North Antrim has the fifth highest proportion of manufacturing jobs in Northern Ireland and I intend to work hard to maintain, if not improve this figure”.