Ann Marie Slavin, President of Derry's Chamber of Commerce, has warmly welcomed the publication of the Irish government's National Development Plan (2007-2013 ) which, she says, is "an exciting, comprehensive plan that will bring significant benefits to both sides of the border.
She said: "In particular the proposals for balanced regional development and for all-Island co-operation across a wide front are imaginative and unprecedented. This Chamber urges the present Direct Rule Ministers and local politicians to respond po
sitively to the proposals and to work constructively with the Dublin Government to bring the proposals to fruition within the lifetime of the Plan."
This is a view shared by Chamber Chief Executive Janice Tracey who said:: "We have been lobbying for some time now on both sides of the border, in the context of both the Northern Ireland Regional Development Strategy and the National Spatial Strategy, to have an integrated development plan for the Northwest Gateway linking both jurisdictions. This would maximise the synergy of both sub-regions and enable the Northwest Gateway to be a competitive sub-region not only on the Island of Ireland but in Europe.
"We welcome the proposals on balanced Regional development in the NDP and we call on Ministers in the North to review present proposals for growing the Northwest Gateway not only within the framework of the strategy in the NDP but also in the context of the new Local Authority functions and boundaries which will become operational here by 2009."
However, the Chamber noted that, although accelerated development of the Gateways is a critical component of the Irish Government's approach to Regional development investment, under the Plan, including the new Gateways Innovation fund would depend upon local authorities concerned in each of the Gateways developing and reaching agreement on key implementation issues.
The Chamber said that they would be seeking early discussions with Derry City Council to explore how some of these issues should be taken forward, particularly in the light of the massive programme of reform now facing local Councils in the North.
Ann-Marie Slavin added: "All-island co-operation across such a comprehensive front has the potential to gain significant competitive advantages for both North and South. We must all embrace this concept and work to develop it to its fullest potential."
She concluded: "We urge all politicians, North and South, to take up the challenges presented in the Plan and help bring about a more prosperous and sustainable economy throughout Ireland for the benefit of future generations."
