Economy Minister Dr is in the United States
this week for a series of high‑level engagements aimed at
boosting investment, trade and tourism with Northern
Ireland.
The Minister begins her visit in San Francisco, where she and
senior Invest NI officials will meet major US investors, business
leaders and industry networks.
Speaking from the West Coast, Dr Archibald said: “This visit
offers an important opportunity to demonstrate the north's
strengths as a competitive, innovative and strategically
positioned location for US investment.
“The US remains one of our most significant sources of inward
investment, with a strong base of US‑owned companies operating
across the north, including Californian investors such as
Seagate, Proofpoint and Imperva.
“Dual market access, deep sectoral strengths, a skilled talent
base and a resilient business culture all contribute to the
north's continued appeal to US investors.”
During her time in San Francisco, Dr Archibald will deliver
keynote speeches at an Invest NI business leaders' dinner and a
gaming industry lunch with Ulster University and Studio Ulster.
She will also officially open Invest NI's new office location in
the city, strengthening the agency's on‑the‑ground presence in
the US market.
Anne Beggs, Chief Commercial Officer at Invest NI said: “US
companies play a vital role in Northern Ireland's economy,
investing in key sectors such as financial services,
cybersecurity, technology and advanced manufacturing. Our new
office location in San Francisco will strengthen the work of our
US team who are working hard to identify US firms looking to
establish or expand operations and introduce them to Northern
Ireland as a potential location.
“Many of our leading US investors, including Citi and Aflac,
continue to reinvest and grow their operations in Northern
Ireland, demonstrating confidence in our region. We remain
committed to fostering new partnerships, driving investment, and
ensuring our economy continues to thrive on the global
stage.”
The Minister will then travel to Los Angeles where she will
address US travel and media partners at a Tourism Ireland
breakfast event, highlighting our growing profile as a compelling
destination for American visitors. She
said: “Increasing US visitor numbers is essential to
strengthening our tourism economy, and I'm committed to driving
that growth.”
Whilst in LA the Minister will also, along with NI Screen,
promote our world‑class screen sector during a series of meetings
with key figures from major US studios.