London - A conference by top US business tycoons aimed at drawing investment to the formerly troubled British province of Northern Ireland was declared a "major success" by participants Friday. Some 120 corporate chiefs ended the three-day meeting with a tour of the province Friday, inspecting the sites where future funds could be invested.
Ian Paisley, the outgoing First Minister (head of regional government) of Northern Ireland, termed the conference a "major success" as many of the delegates pledged to return for further talks "when the dust settles."
The conference won pledges for major investments in the aerospace and IT sectors, on top of a previous announcement by New York City Comptroller William Thompson that the city would invest 150 million dollars in infrastructure projects in Northern Ireland.
"I think it went extremely well, the enthusiasm was infectious. I think you will see an added infusion of capital from the private sector in the next one or two years," said Thompson, also hailing the conference a success.
Among those pledging future large-scale investments in the province were Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier, media group Bloomberg, the New York Stock Exchange and software companies Wombat and CyberSource.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who addressed participants at a dinner Thursday, said there was a "new sense of dynamism" in Northern Ireland following the completion of the peace process and the formation of a power-sharing government a year ago."
He praised the commitment shown by the US, at both the political and the business level. "British-Irish relationships have never been stronger. When we have Britain, Ireland and America working together, nothing can stop us," said Brown.
Ireland's new Prime Minister Brian Cowen said his Dublin-based government, together with the regional government of Northern Ireland, would ensure that the "true economic potential of the area" was unleashed.
Despite the pledges, however, observers said it could take a number of years before their success could be measured.
