DATE=3/21/2000
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=NORTHERN IRELAND
NUMBER=5-45692
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSSMAN
DATELINE=BELFAST
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Northern Ireland's peace process can make or
break business prospects for its population of one-
and-one-half million. The economy is growing, but as
we hear from Correspondent Laurie Kassman in Belfast
the future will depend on securing political stability
and improving Northern Ireland's international image.
TEXT: Construction cranes dominate the skyline of
Belfast. Six new hotels are planned and several
communications centers are relocating to the city.
The region's manufacturing output topped six-percent
last year. Revenue from tourism has increased 15-
percent since the Good Friday Peace Agreement was
signed two-years ago. That is the good news.
Deputy Editor of the "Nationalist Irish News", Noel
Doran, says it could be a lot better.
/// DORAN ACT ///
The economy has improved but not as much as it
needs to. Unemployment is at its lowest level
for many years. There has been some investment,
but not anywhere near the level there needs to
be.
/// END ACT ///
The rate of unemployment averages less than six-
percent, half of what it was six-years ago. But
business leaders say that is still too high.
Belfast's shipyard - famous for having built the
Titanic ocean liner nearly a century ago - may have to
lay off many of its 18-hundred workers if new
contracts are not signed soon. Jobs in the
traditional industries like textiles and agriculture
are on the decline.
To stay competitive, Northern Ireland is making the
transition to service industries, ranging from
computer technology to communications centers. That
requires better education for the next generation of
workers and retraining for those who find their jobs
in traditional areas drying up.
Most agree that transition also depends a lot on peace
in Northern Ireland.
Stephen Kingon is Chairman of Belfast's Chamber of
Commerce Economic Committee. He also helps run an
international accounting firm in Belfast.
/// KING ACT ///
To get economic growth, political stability is a
pre-requisite.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Kingon says the business community is counting on
home-rule powers to build the political stability that
will ease investor concerns.
/// KINGON ACT TWO ///
The [home rule] assembly will give us a lot more
local accountability. It will allow us to
tailor our solutions much more to the needs of
Northern Ireland than would have been the case
under a direct rule scenario.
/// END ACT ///
The suspension of the home-rule assembly in February
leaves a critical vacuum in the region's economic
policy-making process.
But Northern Ireland is trying to get out the message
that it is already safe for investment. The Deputy
Chief Executive of Northern Ireland's Tourist Board,
Mark Alexander, says changing Northern Ireland's image
is tough, as long as the 1998 Good Friday Peace
Agreement is not fully implemented.
/// ALEXANDER ACT ///
You probably would not need to create an
awareness of Northern Ireland anywhere in the
world, but normally that awareness is for the
wrong reasons.
/// END ACT ///
The business community is not sitting still while the
politicians thrash out their differences. Tourism
official Mark Alexander says the push is to get the
word out that Northern Ireland is safe for investment
and the world's image no longer matches the reality.
Gone are the miles of barbed wire, ominous police
roadblocks, army helicopters and armored vehicles that
once patrolled the region. The news now is mostly
about political wrangling, not sectarian bloodbaths.
International investors are lining up to check out
investment possibilities, but Northern Ireland's
promoters acknowledge a prolonged political stalemate
in Northern Ireland would discourage them. (SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/GE/RAE
21-Mar-2000 12:52 PM EDT (21-Mar-2000 1752 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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