Little-Pengelly: ‘Northern Ireland is a place of transformation, ambition and opportunity’

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said, “Northern Ireland is a place of transformation, ambition and opportunity” while speaking at the NI Bureau Breakfast in Washington, DC, on Thursday.

The Northern Ireland Bureau is part of The Executive Office, and it’s main role is to “promote Northern Ireland as a confident, competitive and outward-looking region.”

Companies from the U.S. are included in over 1,500 international companies that have already established operations in Northern Ireland; with over 70% of them re-investing, which proves our region works for them.

These businesses recognise the benefits of investing in a highly skilled workforce, a business-friendly environment, and an ideal geographic location close to key markets.

But our message is not only about U.S. companies investing in Northern Ireland. At the start of this week, myself and the First Minister led a delegation of local companies to North Carolina with a message about our local homegrown talent establishing a base here in the U.S.

We are investing in skills, infrastructure, and cutting-edge industries to ensure that Northern Ireland is a place where businesses start, scale up and export all over the world.

Central to our vision is an economy that is agile, open, outward-looking, and globally competitive.

– Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly

Several ministers are currently in Washington, DC, as part of St Patrick’s Day celebrations.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill is not there due to Sinn Fein’s decision to boycott the events because of President Trump’s stance on Gaza.

The Deputy First Minister, along with representatives from Invest NI and the NI Chamber, also met with members of the US Chamber of Commerce.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly met with members of the @USChamber of Commerce along with representatives from Invest NI and the NI Chamber.
The discussion centred on the important economic partnership between NI and the U.S. and the importance of working together to… pic.twitter.com/1nSbauYmlJ

— NI Executive (@niexecutive) March 13, 2025