A new strategy designed to supercharge the growth of the economy of the Mid South West (MSW) will create the right conditions for companies located in the region to flourish in the coming years. The Regional Economic Strategy is focused on boosting productivity across the three council areas of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Mid Ulster District Council – which make up the Mid South West Region and will require businesses to play their part in helping to realise its ambitious goals. The strategy, which was developed following extensive research and analysis of the region’s economy and was informed by engagement with the region’s major employers, identifies challenges and opportunities and sets out four pillars to guide investment and grow the collective economy. The pillars are: future proofing the skills base, enabling infrastructure, boosting innovation and digital capacity and building a high performing tourism economy. By focusing on those areas, the overriding goals of increasing productivity, driving business growth, fully realising sectoral strengths and opportunities, creating more and better-paid jobs and ensuring the ongoing internationalisation of MSW can be achieved, Councillor Robert Irvine, Chair of the Mid South West Region Governance Steering Group, said. “Our ambitions for the Mid South West economy are far reaching, but we are confident that with the support of all stakeholders in the region they are wholly achievable. The analysis of the region’s economy was honest both in terms of identifying its strengths but also the areas where support and investment in a range of strategic interventions can have the most impact. “Through the Regional Economic Strategy, we will strive to create the conditions that the private sector needs to grow their businesses, employ more skilled staff and become internationally competitive. We are unashamedly ambitious as are our businesses and so by working together we can raise productivity and create a better future for everyone.” The strategy will enable the Mid South West Region to leverage financial investment from a range of sources – such as the Growth Deal funding announced by the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive, the PEACE PLUS Programme, the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, Innovate UK and other central government funding. Following the recent launch of the strategy by First Minister Arlene Foster MLA and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA at a socially-distanced event held at EDGE Innovate near Dungannon, Minister Dodds MLA, who also attended the launch said its overriding aims are more relevant than ever as the region recovers and rebuilds, adding that the support of the business community has been and will continue to be crucial. “This strategy provides an excellent framework to support the identification of Growth Deal projects and the councils are to be congratulated for coming together and working constructively” for the betterment of the region. She said sustained industry engagement will be key to its successful delivery. The strategy sets out several areas where growth is being impeded and how those impediments can be removed. Boosting productivity, connectivity and infrastructure, skills and making more of the region’s tourism offering are the focus of the strategy, which is structured around four intervention pillars.

MSW has engaged extensively with businesses and key sectors, with politicians locally, regionally and nationally, with central government, with education and the wider stakeholder community, and this engagement, particularly with businesses will continue. “We will continue to welcome the input and guidance of our industry/business base,” Councillor Irvine said. “Their ongoing engagement with this initiative is critical as we move to the next stage of development.” “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to supercharge the Mid South West economy and cement the Region’s position as Northern Ireland’s engine room.”

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The economy in the Mid South West (MSW) will be supercharged under plans laid out in an ambitious Regional Economic Strategy which promises to transform the region.

Developed as a collaboration between Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Mid Ulster District Council, the strategy is centred on boosting productivity.

The strategy, developed following extensive research and analysis of the region’s economy and informed by engagement with the major employers throughout the region, identifies challenges and opportunities and sets out four pillars to guide investment and grow the collective economy.

The pillars are: future proofing the skills base, enabling infrastructure, boosting innovation and digital capacity and building a high performing tourism economy.

By focusing on these pillars, the overriding goals of increasing productivity, driving business growth in the region, fully realising sectoral strengths and opportunities, creating more and better-paid jobs and ensuring the ongoing internationalisation of MSW can be achieved.

The strategy sets out a number of potential projects under each of the pillars which, with investment, would help boost productivity. These include further development of critical road infrastructure; the implementation of a Skills Action Plan; the development of an Innovation and Skills Academy through the South West College and an Agri Food Robotics Centre, at CAFRE Loughry Campus; as well as the development of a life and health science opportunity in Carn, Craigavon; delivery of a MSW destination tourism experience; and, further development of cross-border assets such as the Marble Arch Caves UNESCO Global Geopark.

The Regional Economic Strategy will enable the Mid South West Region to leverage financial investment from a range of sources – such as the Growth Deal funding announced by the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive, the PEACE PLUS Programme, the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, Innovate UK and other central government funding.

The strategy had been due to launch in spring 2020 but was postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Its overriding aims are more relevant than ever as the region recovers and rebuilds.

First Minister Arlene Foster said: “By joining forces, the three councils within the Mid South West have developed a plan which will transform not just the region, but the wider economy. The Mid South West Regional Economic Strategy is aligned with the recovery plans of central government and is particularly relevant as the economy recovers from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“As someone who grew up and lives in the Mid South West, it is particularly pleasing to see a roadmap laid out for this vibrant region, one which can only benefit from a joined up approach.”

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “The Regional Economic Strategy is a suitably ambitious plan for the Mid South West Region, which has immense potential and much to offer.

“As we set about rebuilding our economy, we know it needs to be fairer and more regionally balanced. It also has to be greener and more sustainable. The £252 million Growth Deal funding package that has been secured for the Mid South West is a fantastic and unique opportunity. This strategy will help to ensure the right initiatives are put in place to help the region reach its full potential and achieve prosperity for all the people of the area.”

Economy Minister Diane Dodds commented: “This strategy provides an excellent framework to support the identification of the right type of Growth Deal project and the Councils are to be congratulated for coming together and working so constructively to secure funding for their growth deal and the development of their Regional Economic Strategy. Key to success will be sustained industry engagement and It is critical that the Region ensures there is a robust mechanism in place to ensure meaningful engagement so that they can shape the innovation and digital projects to ensure they deliver their needs.”

Councillor Cathal Mallaghan, Chair of the Mid South West Region Governance Steering Group, said: “The Mid South West Regional Economic Strategy sets out a plan to help our businesses to scale, export and become more profitable. We are going to work together to ensure that we achieve this ambition, thereby boosting productivity across the region, ensuring a more prosperous future and rebalancing our regional economy.

Darragh Cullen, Managing Director of EDGE Innovate which hosted the launch event, said: “Along with a number of other major employers in the Mid South West I was involved in the Business Reference Group which contributed to the development of the Regional Economic Strategy. By addressing our challenges and putting in place the structures and interventions which will enable businesses to do what we do best, the strategy will allow us and other businesses in this region to excel.”

The main business bodies in Northern Ireland are helping shape a Regional Economic Strategy for the Mid South West (MSW) region.

Representatives from the Confederation of British Industry, Institute of Directors, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, Hospitality Ulster, Northern Ireland Retail Consortium and the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association met on Friday to hear about progress in the development of the strategy and to put forward ideas as to how business growth can be maximised across the region.

The Regional Economic Strategy is the focus of a unique collaboration between the three councils which form the MSW region: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Mid Ulster District Council.

Its aims are to improve productivity; create more and better jobs; address economic infrastructure; grow investment; support business innovation; grow tourism and improve skills across the MSW region.

Councillor Siobhán Currie, Chair of Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, said: “The business organisations gathered around the table today represent a huge swathe of the companies operating the region. Their input will be invaluable in helping shape the Regional Economic Strategy which will set a path for the future growth of the region’s economy and the prosperity of everyone.”

Councillor Martin Kearney, Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, said: “We want to make sure the Regional Economic Strategy for the Mid South West answers the very real and present needs of the business community. With the help of the business organisations who attended today’s meeting, we will develop that strategy around those needs to help businesses to grow and compete on a global stage now and in the future.”

Councillor Mealla Campbell, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, said:  “The importance of the Mid South West region’s economy has been emphasised by the strong representation of Northern Ireland’s main business organisations today. We plan to put everything in place to help their members – based in the Mid South West region and throughout Northern Ireland – grow, thrive and create jobs in the coming years.”

A number of key businesses in the Mid, South and West (MSW) region met this week to inform the development of a Regional Economic Strategy to drive economic growth and prosperity across the region.

Representatives from 18 companies met in Armagh City as part of a unique collaboration between the three councils which form the MSW region: Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Mid Ulster District Council.

They put forward their ideas as to how business growth can be maximised by using economic levers including the recently announced Growth Deal funding, a multi-million pound investment for the region.

Companies taking part in the information and workshop session included Almac, Heron Bros, Strathroy Dairy, SDC, Balcas and Hyster-Yale Group.

Their ideas will be amalgamated with the findings from a recent meeting of the MSW Governance Steering Group made up of Councillors from across the three Council areas, as well as feedback from a meeting of umbrella business organisations to be held later this week.

The Regional Economic Strategy will be focused on improving productivity; creating more and better jobs; addressing economic infrastructure; growing investment; supporting business innovation; growing tourism and improving skills across the MSW region.

Councillor Mealla Campbell, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, said:  “The input of business is essential for us to develop a Regional Economic Strategy which smoothes the path for the MSW economy and will allow it to build on the progress it has made in the last few years. With the right support we can help these great businesses become even greater and cement this region’s reputation as an economic powerhouse.”

Councillor Siobhán Currie, Chair of Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, said: “Business sits at the heart of the Mid, South and West Regional Economic Strategy so garnering their opinion at this early stage is essential to allow us to form a plan which really works. We will use their insight to utilise all the economic levers available to enable the region to flourish.”

Councillor Martin Kearney, Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, said: “In order to ensure we develop a Regional Economic Strategy which answers the needs of business, we have brought together the people who are driving the economy in the MSW region to gather their insight. That information will sit at the core of our planning for a more prosperous future for everyone across the three council areas.”

The councils which represent the Mid, South and West region have held a steering group meeting to identify opportunities to boost economic growth and prosperity across the region.

Steering Group representatives from Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Fermanagh & Omagh District Council and Mid Ulster District Council came together in Omagh to share ideas which will be used to inform the development of a Regional Economic Strategy.

The Regional Economic Strategy will be focused on improving productivity; creating more and better jobs; addressing economic infrastructure; growing investment; supporting business innovation and improving skills across the three council areas known as the Mid, South and West region.

The councils are being supported in the development of the strategy by Oxford Economics and Morrow Gilchrist Associates who presented the Steering Group with information on the economic profile of the region, alongside the opportunities and challenges which could be met through, for example the Growth Deal proposition and other economic levers.

Earlier this month, the UK government announced combined funding for a Growth Deal for both the Mid, South and West region and Causeway Coast and Glens of £163m.

In addition to meetings with Councillors, the council group will also be engaging with both business bodies and representatives from a wide range of companies throughout the region in the coming weeks to input their views on how to boost economic growth across the region.

Councillor Siobhán Currie, Chair of Fermanagh & Omagh District Council, said: “Work is ongoing to develop an economic strategy and to identify areas where growth deal funding can be best used within the region. We now look forward to working with the business community to secure its input on how to further develop the economic prosperity of the region.”

Councillor Martin Kearney, Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, said: “Coming together as regional steering group to share and discuss insights into our economic profile is laying a strong foundation upon which our councils can collectively base future decisions. This will ensure that the Mid, South and West Growth Deal supercharges our region’s economy and boosts productivity throughout the area”.

Councillor Mealla Campbell, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, said:  “The Mid, South and West Growth Deal represents just the beginning for driving sustained, long term economic growth and prosperity across the region. By joining forces, and working hard to truly understand the areas of greatest need, we can make sure this funding is leveraged in the best possible areas and for the most benefit.”