As the Mid South West launches its Regional Economic Strategy, the Mid South West Region Governance Steering Group write for Ambition, outlining how an area already considered the economic engine of Northern Ireland has plans to boost productivity and prosperity.
The commitment of three Councils to work collaboratively to drive economic growth across their areas makes sense. By pooling resources, ideas and status the collective can benefit from economies of scale and the region is much better placed to pursue investment.
The Mid South West is a collaboration between Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Mid Ulster District Council. In the pages that follow you will read more of the detail of our collective ambition for the Mid South West Region and that ambition is firmly grounded in a place which has been the economic engine of Northern Ireland for quite some time. We’re proud of where we’ve come from, however we know that as a region we are capable of much, much more if we can address the deficits that exist – infrastructure, skills, innovation and tourism – and by doing so, provide the right conditions for those sectors where we are already leading the way – advanced manufacturing, engineering, agri-food, health and life sciences, tourism, construction and others – to excel. In essence our Regional Economic Strategy is focused on helping companies across the Mid South West supercharge the growth of their businesses which will in turn turbocharge the growth of the Mid South West economy and the Northern Ireland economy. We will strive to tackle the barriers to growth while also helping companies to become exemplars in their field, capable of competing with the best in the world. Collaboration is central to achieving this aim, not just across the three councils in the Mid South West but also with the business community which is at the heart of the region’s economic future.
We have already benefitted from the insight and expertise of our Business Reference Group, made up of some 18 companies who represent the region’s sectoral strengths and who were central to shaping the strategy. Moving forward, the commitment from all businesses in the Mid South West – startups, SMEs, large companies and every inward investor – will be critical to ensuring that the strategy can be successfully delivered.
We are breaking new ground with our Regional Economic Strategy and together we will be able to boost productivity and prosperity across the Mid South West Region and create an even better place for everyone to live, work and play.
