ENTERPRISE Minister Arlene Foster visited Canada this week, where she met with representatives of Nortel and Bomardier.
Both companies have bases in Newtownabbey and both have shed jobs this year as the economic downturn continues to take take hold.
The Minister took part in two days of meetings in Toronto and Montreal to promote trade and tourism links with North
ern Ireland.
Speaking before her visit, the Minister said: “I will be meeting senior management at both Bombardier and Nortel, two of our long established inward investors.
“At a time when both of these companies are feeling the effects of the challenging economic global conditions in different ways, it is important that I and my Ministerial colleagues continue to engage with them and to reaffirm the commitment of the Executive to providing the most supportive environment possible to them."
She added: "Canada is an important trading partner for Northern Ireland, both as a market for locally produced goods and services, and as a source of inward investment.
"We currently have some 70 Northern Ireland companies exporting to Canada but I am convinced that there is scope for many more to do so and to grow the current £375million of manufacturing exports further. I therefore intend to meet with key business influencers and companies to promote the Northern Ireland business proposition.”
The Minister believes the visit is vital to demonstrate her and the Executive's commitment to such major investors here in Northern Ireland.
In June, political representatives from South and East Antrim called for "justice" for more than 80 workers laid off by Nortel earlier this year. A total of 87 people were made redundant at the firm's Monkstown plant at the end of March - part of more than 220 job losses across Nortel's UK operations, after the firm went into administration.
East Antrim MLA Seán Neeson said: “I asked a question in the Assembly on the economic downturn and I am pleased that Arlene Foster informed us that she is going to Canada to speak to Nortel bosses and others.
“Workers at Nortel are understandably concerned about their jobs and I hope that Arlene Foster’s meeting with Nortel officials is successful in providing clarity and security for employees.
“Nortel is an important employer in the East Antrim area - everything that can be done must be done to maintain all the posts which exist at the company.”
