Just two potential investor visits to east of the city

JUST two potential inward investors have visited East Londonderry - one of the most deprived constituencies in Northern Ireland - over the past 12 months, although another visit is planned this summer.

Invest NI also sent a team to the constituency in March to discuss economic development with local stakeholders.

East Londonderry SDLP MLA John Dallat asked the Investment Minister Arlene Foster the number of potential inward investors to have visited the area.

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Mrs Foster replied: “During the past twelve months, two potential inward investment companies have visited the East Londonderry constituency.

“Invest NI’s overseas Sales and Marketing teams also visited the area in March 2011 and met with local stakeholders to gain a greater understanding of the area’s unique selling proposition.”

She explained that potential investors normally visit a number of sites before making an investment decision.

She said: “It is not possible to align individual visits with specific employment related Foreign Direct Investment projects and companies will often visit potential locations several times before making a decision to invest.

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“Securing an inward investment project is the end point of an extensive negotiation process and it may often be 18 to 24 months before an investor makes a final decision on the location and it is only at this point that Invest NI can report on the number of jobs proposed.

“At present, there is one further company planning to visit the East Londonderry constituency in the next three months.”