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Below is the speech given by our CEO, Kevin Holland, at the NI Executive Press Conference.

In the 2020 edition of the Belfast Telegraphs "Top 100 Northern Ireland Companies" Kevin Holland comments on how 2020 has been a year of change for NI businesses.

The trading environment for many NI businesses will change from 1 January 2021 as a result of the end of the EU Exit transition period. Whilst many points of detail have still to be confirmed, a clearer picture is starting to emerge.

Despite the impact of COVID-19 on global markets, we have started planning and laying the foundations for our recovery, with exporting set to play an important role.

Each year we report our end of year performances figures, highlighting in particular our progress against our 4 year Business Strategy targets which were set as part of the draft Programme for Government.

The sudden contraction of export markets, loss of supply chain and government decisions to lockdown whole countries and close all but essential businesses has sent shockwaves through economies right around the globe as COVID-19 has moved from continent to continent.

The immediate global impact of COVID-19 on businesses has been huge, both financially and operationally. It has caused disruptions to global and local supply chains, including the supply of essential raw materials and energy. 

 

In this feature we look at the activity we undertook during 2019/2020 to support business growth, future investment and job creation across Northern Ireland. This activity will drive our outcome performance in future years.

In recent months, much of the world has had travel and business restrictions in place in the fight against COVID-19.  Countries in Asia were among the first to go into lockdown, and are now amongst the first to emerge. As the restrictions ease and Asia moves to a ‘new-normal’ there are business opportunities for Northern Ireland companies to expand in the region.

COVID-19 has brought many challenges, but there are also opportunities and some Northern Ireland SME businesses are looking to take advantage of this.

This year, I had the opportunity to sit on the panel for the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise. Now in their 54th year, the Queen’s Awards are considered by many as the highest UK official award for businesses and are awarded for outstanding achievement in the categories of innovation, international trade, sustainable development and promoting opportunity through social mobility.

The £2m COVID-19 Business & Financial Planning Grant will support micro and SME businesses to engage an experienced consultant to carry out a review and health check of the business and develop a strategic recovery plan with financial forecasts.

The UK's immigration system is changing – from 1 January 2021 an entirely new immigration regime will come into effect.

Leaving the EU Single Market means that there will be changes in how cross border trade in services will be conducted. 

The issues for services trade have not had as much focus as goods trade. In this feature, we highlight some of the common issues which services businesses need to consider and act upon in the weeks ahead.

Northern Ireland’s tech start-up sector has seen significant growth in recent years, particularly in the fields of Fintech, cyber security, health tech and more. We recognise the importance of maximising and supporting this growth so that start-ups can rapidly scale in global markets. In light of COVID-19, this is particularly important.

Trade agreements set out preferential rules that cover trade between two or more countries. They aim to make trading easier between those countries by reducing barriers on imports and exports of goods and services.

SWITCH 2020, organised by Enterprise Singapore and the Monetary Authority of Singapore will be the world’s first round-the-clock, hybrid digital and physical event from 7-11 December. Invest Northern Ireland is offering companies the opportunity to register their interest in participating in the virtual event. Places are limited and we will allocate passes on a first-come basis.

In the January/February 2020 edition of Business Eye, Rose Mary Stalker is clear about her short-term priorities as the new Chair at Invest Northern Ireland.

In the first of a two-part feature, we look at how NI companies are taking huge steps to help the fight against COVID-19.

Northern Ireland is well known to be the world-leading region in the manufacture of mobile bulk processing and wet processing equipment. In fact, over 40% of the tracked mobile crushing and screening products in the world are made in Northern Ireland.

With the year delay, Expo 2020 Dubai hopes to bring the world together for the first time since the pandemic to celebrate our collaborations, innovations and resilience in a world that is fighting and defeating COVID19.

This feature will provide an insight into Saudi Arabia’s growing mining and recycling industry, and the opportunities it presents for Northern Ireland businesses from the Materials Handlings sector.

After a competitive selection process, 10 local businesses have been chosen to participate on Invest Northern Ireland’s Graduate to Export Programme commencing in October 2019.

Despite a year in which our customers faced a myriad of uncertainties including Brexit, global economic conditions and a cautious business environment, their performance can only be described as exceptional.

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