Minister Archibald, Secretary of State Benn, Minister McConologue, Mayor Seenoi-Barr, Chamber members, esteemed colleagues, friends, and guests,

Good afternoon. I’m genuinely delighted to see so many passionate and dedicated people gathered here today in Derry and at the wonderful Ebrington Hotel. United by our shared vision for the growth and prosperity of our region. We in Londonderry Chamber recognise that the NW region includes our neighbours in Donegal, Causeway and Tyrone and with that in mind I welcome our partners from the Letterkenny Chamber and the Causeway Chamber and celebrate our respective Memorandums of Understanding.

Our theme for this year, “Ambitious Regional Collaborations,” is more than a slogan—it’s a call to action. Today’s event, “An Ambitious Region at Work,” reflects our collective determination to continue to bring Derry and the North West out of the shadows and unlock the full economic potential that has awaited us since the Good Friday Agreement 27 years ago.

This afternoon, we’ll explore transformative initiatives and what they mean for all of us.

Just last year, the Derry and Strabane District City Deal was signed—a landmark £290 million, council-led investment driving regional growth through innovation and digital transformation projects like CIDRA, THRIVE, and CARL. City Deal partnerships with Ulster University are clearly vital, so too is the role of the private sector. I urge all stakeholders to align messaging and fully engage with the wider business community to maximise the impact of these opportunities.

Helping do just that is our universities and further education partners which are vital to our economic vision. I commend Ulster University, the Department for the Economy, and the University Taskforce established by the Economy Minister for pushing forward the expansion of the university— with the promise of bringing thousands more students, researchers and staff to the city as well as construction activity and increased supply chain opportunity for our businesses.

However, with university expansion comes the pressing issue of student accommodation. The planned growth of Ulster University presents a significant opportunity, but if we want to become a destination campus and destination city and truly realise the full economic benefits, we must urgently address housing availability for an expanding student body. We need to move rapidly from around 830 units to 3000 as soon as possible.We call on the private sector—and government, if necessary—to respond to the opportunity with haste and responsibility so this opportunity isn’t lost.

In the sphere of education, I also wish to highlight the essential role of further education: NWRC’s apprenticeship programs and skills academies are fundamental in preparing the workforce for investment. We must not only be a university city—we must be an apprenticeship city, building skills for all and ensuring inclusive prosperity. We welcome the announcement from the Chancellor yesterday afternoon investing in the construction worker programs to the tune of £600 million. This in combination with a strong community wealth sector will help to deliver a lasting and inclusive economic impact given that our planned construction projects at this point exceed £1 Billion and could prove an excellent starting point. Certainly, something for our newly formed Local Economic Partnerships to help coordinate for maximum effect.

It is important to note the robust cross-border work among our tertiary education partners—Ulster University, ATU, NWRC, and Donegal ETB. They stand as a shining example of how all-island collaboration on skills and innovation can truly flourish.

Connectivity infrastructure is another linchpin of economic development. While we welcome progress on the A6 and moves toward a more sustainable future for City of Derry Airport and thank the Department for Economy for that intervention, progress in other areas has been too slow—particularly the A5 project and securing a flight link between Derry and Dublin, which would complement the successful Derry to Heathrow route. While the findings of the All-Island Rail Review are promising from a long-term perspective, we need more immediate, lower-cost solutions—like enhancing our cross-border and regional bus networks.

There are many more pieces to the regional development puzzle—housing, healthcare, and leisure facilities—all with exciting prospects and challenges. One area that will touch the lives of everyone here and every visitor is the regeneration of Derry City Centre, the Foyle riverfront, and Strabane Town Centre. The £180 millions worth within City Deals are pivotal, alongside visionary partners like the Inner-City Trust. Their ongoing regeneration work and recent acquisition of the iconic Austins building is symbolically and strategically important—we all look forward to the projects progressing at pace. Creating a region people want to live in is critical, and we’re steadily building that offering year after year. I commend those leading this charge, offer the Chamber’s full support and encourage further innovative government interventions in the event of market failure.

Speaking of regeneration, In Your Space Circus School are fundraising to transform the iconic Cathedral School Building on our historic walls into their Performing Arts Centre. Culture and artists play a vital part in creating a region where people want to live. In Your Space Circus School is – a joyful and inclusive organisation that enriches our region through the magic of street performance and it is for this reason I picked them as my charity partner- please give generously!

One particularly exciting prospect is planned developments at Foyle Port and its surrounding Port Development Zone. Enabling work is underway for Phase 1 of the Greenscale Atlantic Hub Data Centre project. The development can serve as an enabler for many innovative technology developments across the region, powered by the development of large-scale wind energy generation from locations across the North West. Combine this prospect with the existing infrastructure of the River Foyle, the Coolkeeragh Power Station, and Project Kelvin, and let’s remember that right on our doorstep is Vertiv—one of the world’s leading suppliers of power transmission technology for data centres—and Seagate, global leader in data storage innovation.

The key challenges include accelerating investment in grid capacity to support renewable expansion and facilitate the efficient connection of digital infrastructure in the NW.

We seek political and financial support for strengthening transmission grid infrastructure and developing a low carbon digital cluster in the Northwest – this could be by designating Derry as a UK AI Growth Zone and NI Enhanced Investment Zone, and by classifying the GreenScale Atlantic Hub project as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.

The potential for a low carbon AI infrastructure cluster at Foyle Port is significant and could make an enormous contribution to the both the regional and national economy. Successful development will require ambitious collaborations across the private sector, energy partners, academia, Governments at all levels and jurisdictions and the Port – the Chamber will be happy to play its part in helping to facilitate those conversations.

Altogether, these current, planned, proposed and aspirational initiatives form a powerful and compelling regional offering that we believe to be transformative for us living and working here, but importantly, they align with the ambitions of all four governments that intersect in our region. Our Minister for the Economy rightly champions good jobs, regional balance, raised productivity, and reduced carbon emissions—principles that underpin everything we are discussing. Similarly, the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy: Invest 2035 and the Republic of Ireland’s National Development Plan place a strong focus on regional growth, productivity, and sustainability. Our region can play a strong part in all these strategies through visionary long-term, coherent economic planning and delivery.

Experience from other UK regions and the Republic of Ireland demonstrates how targeted fiscal interventions can unlock meaningful growth. Finding the right mix of fiscal responsibility and progressive policies working in tandem with Northern Irelands special status created by the Northern Ireland Protocol, could provide the conditions for a thriving Northern Ireland, an integrated island economy, and a stronger UK and EU.

We are in a different era. We no longer need a begging bowl—given the right conditions we now can offer solutions and deliver them.

We have every reason to be confident—bold, even. I saw that confidence firsthand as the mayors and officers of Derry and Strabane District Council, and Donegal County Council came together to proudly promote our region to Irish American political and business leaders in Boston last November.

I felt it myself in Washington two weeks ago, where interest in our region was heartfelt and palpable—from those with roots on this island, and from Americans who once associated Derry with a place of conflict and the Good Friday Agreement but now feel a new connection through ‘Derry Girls’, believe it or not.

Outward confidence was on display again yesterday, with the opening of a stunning new Grade A office building just around the corner. I commend John Harkin and the Alchemy team as the first occupants – for their vision and belief in our city, its people, and its potential—and I wish them, and their soon-to-be neighbours at Ernst & Young, every success. This summer, our region’s place on the global stage becomes even more visible. ‘The Open’—golf’s premier tournament—returns to Portrush. The West Indies men’s team will play international cricket against Ireland in Bready. And our internationally recognised festivals, food scene, and tourism offerings continue to grow and flourish and finally we are seeing, the branding link up of the Wild Atlantic Way and The Causeway Coast The Chamber believes the time is now to tell our story— internally and externally -clearly, ambitiously, and with pride. To attract people and investment, yes—but also to inspire those who live here. Perhaps the message hasn’t fully landed yet, this is a great place to live and work. And after all, our own people are our greatest ambassadors.

Finally, I want to speak directly to our Chamber members—and the wider regional business community—those who hold the keys to the region’s future. Let me share a story from my own business, FNW Group. We are historically based just over the border in St.Johnston, Donegal, but now also have bases in Omagh, Limavady, and Belfast in the engineering services sector—manufacturing roller doors, and supplying steel and roofing materials amongst other services. Historically, only Belfast had the local economy scale to warrant gearing up to compete for government and blue-chip contracts. But now, for the first time in 160 years and five generations, because of the prospects I have outlined, we see a real opportunity to scale locally—and integrate into national and international supply chains.

But opportunity alone isn’t enough. We must take practical steps to deliver growth. We’re engaging with Invest NI, Enterprise Ireland, education partners, the Chamber and GEMX amongst others, to understand opportunities, educate ourselves on tendering processes, understand financing options, upskill our workforce, drive innovation, and connect with the global economy.
I urge each of you to look at the possibilities within your own industries – it’s time to be ambitious. And I call on our key stakeholders—the University, the Council, Invest NI, and governments—to help capitalise on these opportunities, by listening and providing clear guidance, consistent messaging, and visible pathways for public and private sector engagement.

In conclusion, let us embrace the ambitious future of our region with clarity and commitment. By believing in ourselves, educating ourselves, and gearing up to prepare our businesses, —we will unlock our region’s potential, and build a future of prosperity, innovation, and inclusion across all sectors and borders.

Thank you.