First Minister the Rt. Hon. Peter D. Robinson MLA and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MLA have announced a major Investment Conference on 10 and 11 October 2013 to promote jobs and growth in Northern Ireland.

To be held in Titanic Belfast, the conference will showcase Northern Ireland to potential investors as a location of choice for inward investment and the strength and potential of our key export sectors. Invest Northern Ireland will manage and deliver the event on behalf of, and in close co-operation with, the Northern Ireland Executive and key stakeholders.

The conference will be attended by the Prime Minister, David Cameron.

The Prime Minister's commitment to support the conference was one element of the Economic Pact announced last Friday and follows the unprecedented success of hosting the G8 Summit at Lough Erne.

The First Minister said: "Over the past few days, the eyes of the world have been on Northern Ireland. We are committed to taking forward the opportunities which this has presented to showcase Northern Ireland as a good place to invest and to do business and to visit. The Investment Conference will be an ideal opportunity to do so. That the Prime Minister has committed to attend the conference and work through the various Embassies to ensure that the highest and most appropriate business delegations attend, is a tremendous endorsement of the positive experience of hosting the G8 Summit. We are also delighted that President Obama, and all of the other leaders we discussed it with, have agreed to lend their support to this initiative."

The deputy First Minister said: "The visit of the G8 leaders and the global media, gave us unprecedented access to key decision makers and huge positive international profile. For those leaders with which we already have good relationships, it was an opportunity to strengthen and deepen those bonds, whilst for others it was an opportunity for us to outline our potential and begin to explore opportunities for closer co-operation. All of the leaders showed a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and goodwill and we are determined to build on this and translate it into the investment and jobs that will support the rebalancing of our economy and underpin the building of a shared future for all our people."

(CD)