Investors hear plans for 8,000 new NI jobs at London event

UP to 8,000 new jobs will be created in Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon by 2026, an event in London has heard.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough said the jobs would be supported by £0.25bn, which would be ploughed into the area through public private partnership initiatives.

It’s already home to major firms including pharmaceutical giant Almac and poultry company Moy Park.

The council presented the figures at an event last night attended by potential investors at The Shard, ahead of property and investment conference MIPIM UK which takes place today and tomorrow in London.

Businesses from the area including construction giant Turkington Holdings and property firm The Lotus Group, which owns The Outlet in Banbridge, joined the council delegation.

Council chief executive Roger Wilson said the area was “very much open for business”.

“We have an ambitious agenda for growth and a focus on devel- opment, with a strong long-term vision and place-shaping agenda, and we will do absolutely everything in our power to make the investment journey straightforward.”

He said there had been major investment activity in the area in the last few years, including the acquisition of Moy Park by Pilgrim’s Pride and the takeover of Thompson Aero by Chinese firm AVIC.

The London event will also see economic development agency Invest NI join the Department for International Trade to launch around £1.3bn in property investment opportunities here. Projects which they hope will attract interest at MIPIM include Titanic Quarter and Translink’s Belfast hub project, Weavers Cross.

Minister for Investment Mark Garnier said: “There has never been a better time to invest in Northern Ireland and these projects give investors the opportunity to do just that.

“As an international economic department our message is loud and clear: the UK is open for business, and we can help find the right investment for you.”