Northern Ireland seeks to woo investors

By Jonathan Saul

BELFAST (Reuters) - Northern Ireland holds a major investment conference for U.S. firms this week as it seeks to attract foreign businesses to the province.

A year after Catholic and Protestant political foes put aside decades of hostility and agreed to share power in a regional government, attention is focused on opening the economy and luring foreign funds, especially in financial services.

Following are excerpts from an interview with Northern Ireland's Economy Minister Nigel Dodds.

Q: How has Northern Ireland's economy changed, particularly since the Good Friday (1998 peace) Agreement?

A: Over that period of time, we have seen a big drop in terms of the people who are unemployed. We still have issues in terms of the relatively small size of the private sector compared to the public sector.

Q: Has there been a peace dividend?

A: There is no doubt that Northern Ireland is now seen as being open for business. I think the major impediment to people considering Northern Ireland was first and foremost peoples' fears about security and stability.

I think we have seen a realisation now that with the tailing off of violence and its end, and with the creation of a stable, devolved administration back in May last year, people now see a major opportunity.