LISTEN: Belfast should look to how Dublin has branded itself to attract investment, and should work with Ireland’s capital to open itself up to further business.
Panellists speaking at Estates Gazettes Question Time event at the Grand Opera House in Belfast agreed that Stormont needed to be more proactive in promoting the Northern Irish capital.
Simon McEvoy, director for Belfast office agency at Savills, said Dublin always had a clear idea of selling a “brand Ireland”.
“Stormont needs to be looking at our Irish neighbours to see how well they have been attracting and retaining business, and helping them grow,” he said. “Dublin has taken the cluster effect well.
“Ireland has had a 20-year head start on us owing to the political system but there is no reason why we can’t start to catch up. Dublin has always had clear idea of what it was selling. It knew what sectors it was chasing and planned for these by investing in skills. We can learn a lot from what it did.”
Belfast could also relieve the strain on an overheated Dublin market, according to Michael Graham of Aurora Prime Real Estate.
Craig Logan, Bank of Ireland, agreed. Belfast provided a compelling proposition because of its low occupational costs and ready access to talent, he said.
But delegates said that Belfast’s infrastructure needed to be improved if the city was to thrive.
Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of Belfast City Council, said: “The nature of the message relating to Dublin has to change. I don’t think it has to be an aggressive, competitive approach. It can be a win-win. We need to look towards Dublin and see how accessible that corridor is, and look at our air routes.”
Andrew Webb, economist at Webb Advisory, suggested Stormont was more of a hindrance than a help. “They should just get out of the way and let Belfast get on with it. I would be pushing for a city deal,” he said.
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