Invest NI promote twice as many jobs in Belfast as in NW

During the same period Invest NI promoted one job for every 69 people in Belfast but just one job for every 190 people in Foyle, East Londonderry, West Tyrone and Mid Ulster.

Investment Minister Arlene Foster revealed there were 448 foreign direct investment visits in the four Belfast constituencies of East, South, West and North between 2008 and 2011.

This compared to just 45 west of the Bann. Both areas have roughly similar populations according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

DUP MLA Gregory Campbell asked the Minister for details of FDI visits and jobs promotions in Belfast and the North West through an Assembly Question.

In response she revealed a substantial imbalance between Belfast and the Londonderry area but stressed that it was not possible to align individual visits with specific employment related FDI projects.

“A company may visit a number of times before making the decision to invest, in which case it could be said that each visit has resulted in job promotion.

“On the other hand, a company may visit once, make an initial investment and then follow this up with further investment. In this case the one visit would have resulted in more than one investment project,” she stated.

The Minister advised there were 4,908 jobs promoted in Belfast but just 2,046 in the North West over the three year period. Thus over twice as many jobs were created per capita in the Northern Ireland capital.

Over the three years 193 jobs were promoted in East Londonderry; 846 in Foyle; 761 in Mid Ulster and 246 in West Tyrone. That’s one job for every 190 people.