50 companies for US conference

By Johnny Caldwell
BBC News

Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness promoted the conference in the US

Almost 50 US companies have confirmed they will be attending next month's investment conference in Belfast.

The companies include Nortel, insurance giant Allstate and finance group Citi.

Ian Paisley, 81, has said he intends to step down as Northern Ireland's first minister following the three-day conference, which starts on 7 May.

At the end of last year, he and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness spent a week in the US promoting the event and investment opportunities in NI.

"To date, 48 US companies have accepted invitations to attend the US-NI Investment Conference," said a spokeswoman for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

"Originally the conference aimed to attract 40-50 senior US business representatives, however, we are greatly encouraged by the level of interest shown by the US business community to date.

"The conference also continues to have strong support from the US administration, the governments of the UK and the Irish Republic and will provide an ideal opportunity leading US companies to see at first-hand that Northern Ireland is open for business."