US Business Leader Warns North Belfast to Get Its Act Together

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday November 15, 2002 18:48 by M60

The leader of a high-powered American business delegation visiting North Belfast this week says local communities and politicians need to get their act together if new businesses are to invest in North Belfast

North Belfast News
15 November 2002

US Business Leader Warns North Belfast to Get Its Act Together
By Aidan Crean

The leader of a high-powered American business delegation visiting
North Belfast this week says local communities and politicians need
to get their act together if new businesses are to invest in North
Belfast.

Jim Lyons is head of the US-based Friends of Belfast group that was
instrumental in persuading the Teletech call centre to open on
Duncairn Gardens.

He visited North Belfast on a fact-finding mission this week with the
aim of persuading other US businesses to invest in Belfast.
But he says that if the violence doesn't stop businesses won't
invest.

"If the violence continues businesses won't invest and people will
pull out of Belfast.

"It is very disappointing that the violence is occurring, the
community leaders need to do all they can to get it stopped.

"There should be an end to all paramilitary activity regardless of
the source and everyone should do their best to stop it if they want
business to invest here," he said.

And speaking of the troubled Teletech site on Duncairn Gardens, which
was forced to close its doors twice because of violence, he
said: "the community leaders need to return political and social
stability to that neighbourhood.

"Teletech has weathered the storm and kept going but that doesn't
mean the violence is not having a negative impact."

Friends of Belfast is based in four US cities and was established by
Belfast City Council.

Its aim is to encourage private American investors to see Belfast as
a potential base for European operations.

During their trip here they visited the North Belfast Partnership
Board for a question and answer session with local community leaders
and politicians. They also visited the Shankill Road where they
enjoyed a drink in a local bar on Thursday evening.

Jim Lyons says that despite the images of the Holy Cross blockade
being beamed across the world there is still interest from the
business community.

"It doesn't make my job any easier but as I tell people in the
states, Northern Ireland is the best kept economic secret in Europe.

"Belfast opens up not only the Irish market but also the whole of
Europe, which is of huge importance to the USA.

"I have a deep interest in Ireland and I try and persuade business
people that it makes good sense to invest here."