Last month, a diverse delegation of Belfast’s business leaders, innovators and civic partners touched down in New York with a defined purpose – to strengthen our longstanding ties with the United States and forge new commercial and institutional bonds that will shape Belfast’s global future.
From the moment we entered the New York Athletic Club for the annual New York-New Belfast (NYNB) Conference, it was evident that Belfast’s story resonates powerfully across the Atlantic. Our city’s evolution from an industrial powerhouse to a modern hub for fintech, cyber security, healthtech, advanced manufacturing and the creative industries has captured the imagination of US investors, diaspora leaders and economic development stakeholders alike.
The NYNB luncheon served as more than just a networking event. It provided an invaluable platform to share our city’s distinctive economic narrative and highlight the resilience, ingenuity and ambition that define Belfast today. The message was clear – Belfast’s brand of innovation is not only export-ready, but investment-worthy.
Yet this mission was about more than profile raising, it was a practical exercise in outward direct investment (ODI) – a strategy that encourages local firms to scale globally, embed themselves in high-potential markets, and build strategic alliances that unlock long-term value.
Why ODI, and why now? In an increasingly competitive global economy, ODI isn’t just about growth, it’s about positioning Belfast as a serious international player and partner. By backing our businesses to think and act globally, we’re planting the seeds for a stronger, more resilient regional economy, one that creates opportunities both at home and abroad.
Post Brexit, Northern Ireland’s unique trading position, simultaneously part of the UK market and a gateway to the EU, makes us an attractive landing pad for American firms contemplating European expansion. By the same token, it makes Belfast companies compelling partners for US corporates seeking a trusted bridge across two of the world’s largest markets.
This competitive edge is reinforced by our strong tech cluster, the quality of our talent, the City Deals finally being delivered and broader regeneration initiatives, which are already drawing attention from US investors and institutions as long-term commitments that signal a city serious about innovation and growth.
These themes came to life in our meetings with US-based companies, investment groups and policy influencers, many of whom have enduring ties to Northern Ireland.
Feedback from our delegation confirmed what Belfast Chamber has long believed – that relationships are the true currency of international trade.
Fostering meaningful, mutually beneficial connections between Belfast businesses and their US counterparts, doesn’t just spark new opportunities, it lays the foundations for multi-year collaborations that create jobs, transfer knowledge and build prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.
Belfast Chamber’s role is to now keep that momentum alive – convening partners, removing barriers, championing ambitious policy, and above all, telling Belfast’s story with clarity and conviction.
Our ‘Team Belfast’ approach – working in close partnership with the Lord Mayor and City Council – ensures our city speaks with one united voice. Acting as a vital bridge between business and government, Belfast Chamber helps align priorities and unlock opportunities.
Our time in New York was proof that when we act collectively, we punch well above our weight. Belfast seeks to increase exports to help drive productivity, but we also seek to continue to attract inward investment and external capital. Two sides of the socio-economic growth coin.
As macro-economic headwinds shift, it will be the cities that pair openness with strategic focus that thrive. Belfast is ready. We have the ingenuity, the networks and the will to compete on a global scale.
The bridges we strengthened in New York are not symbolic, they are the structural supports of a future ready economy, one that delivers inclusive prosperity at home while shaping solutions far beyond our shores.