Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce
From the Chief Executive
Growth in services brings
greater benefits for
member companies
by Ann McGregor, chief executive,
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce
T
he Chamber will continue its practical support to help Assisting and servicing our members are essential functions of
member companies to buck recessionary trends and increase the Chamber. No other business body provides the breadth of
their revenue during 2010. Our aim will be to develop further professional services and expertise, many of them free to
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last yearʼs initiatives that encouraged our members to maintain a members, that we offer.
tight grip on costs while increasing value for existing and This means we have a crucially important contribution to make
potential customers particularly in markets outside Northern to the efforts of the Executive and its Departments of Enterprise,
Ireland. Trade and Investment and Employment and Learning to
All the signs indicate that business conditions in 2010 will transform Northern Ireland into an economy driven by a more
continue to be challenging. Our focus will continue to be on entrepreneurial, innovative and export focused private sector.
promoting and facilitating business growth by means of Led by president Bro McFerran, Chamber officers have advised
programmes including workshops, networking events, export the Executive on how best to convert its commitment to
activities and lobbying Executive Ministers. prioritise economic development into effective measures that will
Our strategy is based fundamentally on helping member actually help to accelerate business growth.
companies to win more business. We have advocated measures to promote economic growth by
Underpinning the Chamberʼs approach is the recognition that addressing burdens on business in areas such as planning and
Northern Irelandʼs economic growth is dependent on companies rates. The Chamber also urged support for the beleaguered
competing successfully in international markets. construction by the Executive bringing forward infrastructural
Successful export focused companies drive growth through investment projects faster.
greater productivity, create additional and better employment We have developed and are maintaining our relationships with
opportunities and generate wealth for the whole community. If ministers and with bodies such as the Economic Development
we are to improve essential public services, particularly in health Forum (EDF) Invest NI and InterTradeIreland. Among detailed
and education, we need to strengthen business. proposals put to the EDF during the year was a new strategy for
In 2009, the Chamber teamed up with experts in areas such as faster growth in exports.
finance, productivity and marketing to offer our members Through our membership with the British Chambers of
practical support that could help them surmount the challenges Commerce we have an influence on national economic policy. In
of the credit crunch. We joined forces with Invest Northern 2009, we had an opportunity to discuss local business issues with
Ireland to help companies to find new business in developing Lord Mandelson, the UK Business Secretary, and David Cameron,
markets such as Poland and Turkey. Leader of the Conservative Party. Chamber officers, furthermore,
Our longstanding partnership with InterTradeIreland enabled met Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King and his team
many smaller companies in particular to build worthwhile to detail the impact of bank policies on Northern Ireland business.
business in the Republic of Ireland. We are, in addition, developing our contacts with Chambers
As a direct result of these and other initiatives undertaken by outside Northern Ireland, moving the Chamber closer to the
the Chamber many companies are now better placed to benefit worldʼs biggest business network, which offers Northern Ireland
when economic recovery gathers momentum especially in companies a wealth of knowledge, expertise and experience in
markets outside Northern Ireland. This is vitally important key international markets.
because economic recovery here is likely to lag behind other The year ahead will see the development and implementation
markets in Europe and further afield. of a new strategy that will enhance the Chamberʼs position as
As chief executive since June 2008, I have sought to Northern Irelandʼs most progressive and innovative business
strengthen existing services and to develop new initiatives organisation particularly in terms of the professional services it
geared to the business needs of member companies and also to provides to small and medium sized companies across every
increase overall membership. industrial and commercial sector of the Northern Ireland
Among the developments for the benefit of members
economy.
implemented is the achievement of Investors in People I look forward to working alongside the president, vice‑
accreditation. Achieving IIP has helped us to strengthen our president and the new Council in measures that will assist
interaction with and services to our members. member companies to thrive and prosper in 2010 and beyond.
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