13th Annual Northern Ireland Economic Conference
Moving the economy centre-stage...
Date: Wednesday 1st October 2008
Venue: Culloden Hotel, Belfast
| Main sponsor: | Sponsors: | Conference publication: |
 |
|
 |
Now that the political issue is more settled and devolution is up and running, developing the local economy is the number one challenge facing the Executive. This is highlighted in the Programme for Government, which outlines how the Executive plans to deliver on its social and economic agenda. Commentators agree that this will require innovative thinking and a high level of attention from our local ministers and their supporting government officials, particularly at a time of growing global economic turbulence with the credit crunch and spiralling commodity prices. The Northern Ireland Economic Conference 2008 will examine Northern Ireland’s prospects in the global economy and will seek to provide answers to some of the questions about increasing competitiveness and overcoming economic challenges.
This year’s keynote address will be delivered by European Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner. With the Commission’s taskforce having reported, the Commissioner will outline how Northern Ireland can contribute to, and benefit more from, Europe by drawing on some of the findings of the report which highlighted our strengths and weaknesses in the European context in areas such as education and training; enterprise; transport and energy. With the taskforce report now under consideration by the Executive, this will be an important opportunity to consider its findings and determine how Northern Ireland as a region can become more involved with Europe.
Featured speakers include:
 |
Ronnie Hall Director, DG Regional Policy European Commission & Chair of Northern Ireland Task Force |
 |
Philip McDonagh Chief Economist PricewaterhouseCoopers |
 |
Adrian Cooper Managing Director OXFORD ECONOMICS |
 |
Professor Mike Campbell Director of Research and Policy UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) |
 |
Victor Hewitt Director Economic Research Institute of Northern Ireland (ERINI) |
 |
Joanne Stuart Chairman, Institute of Directors ( Northern Ireland) |
 |
Stephen Kingon Chairman Invest Northern Ireland |
 |
Frank Cushnahan Chairman Ministerial Advisory Panel of the Performance and Efficiency Unit Department of Finance & Personnel |
* View the full speaker line-up and conference programme here >>
Download the full conference brochure here [PDF] >
* NB: When registering online you have the option of paying by credit card or we can invoice you