Invest NI's appalling record in North Antrim
05 October 2011
North Antrim MLA & TUV Leader Jim Allister has expressed amazement and deep disappointment at figures released to him in an Assembly answer on the extent of the effort by Invest NI to attract jobs to North Antrim.
Mr Allister had sought details on the number of jobs created in each constituency on foot of Invest NI’s efforts over the last 5 years, and the number of foreign investors they had brought to visit each constituency.
The figures reveal the shocking reality that for 4 years, from 2006-2010, not a single foreign investor was introduced to North Antrim, though over the same period 805 visits had been arranged to other parts of Northern Ireland. It was only in 2010/11 that for the first time in 5 years that Invest NI brought a foreign investor to visit North Antrim, when 2 visits took place out of a total of 181 across Northern Ireland.
Commenting Jim Allister said, “These are astounding figures and a huge indictment of Invest NI. How can it be that with our willing and skilled workforce Invest NI only thought it worth its while to arrange 2 visits in 5 years, while the constituency of the First Minister, Peter Robinson, had 47. Indeed of the total visits over 5 years, two thirds went to Belfast. Even when Ian Paisley was First Minister North Antrim didn’t have a single potential foreign investor come to see what we had to offer. Why has North Antrim been let down in this way, while over the same period we haemorrhaged jobs, particularly in Ballymoney.
“Little wonder, then, when we turn to how many jobs invest NI created in each constituency, that we find North Antrim was again a poor relation. Over the 5 years it is claimed 24,612 jobs were created across Northern Ireland, but only 680 of them in North Antrim, a mere 2.5%, while East Belfast topped the list with 3392 new jobs, Arlene Foster’s constituency got 1716 jobs and Martin McGuinness’ 1429.
“Why has North Antrim been so neglected and denied our fair share of economic growth?
“I do not intend to let this matter rest, but will be seeking urgent explanation from DETI and Invest NI. North Antrim when it comes to skills and those willing and able to work is no Cinderella, so why have we been by-passed?”
