THE north will see “a big difference in how trade flows” when the first phase of the Windsor Framework comes into effect in October, Chris Heaton-Harris has said.
Speaking at the Northern Ireland Investment Summit in Belfast, the Secretary of State claimed the political instability at Stormont had not deterred investors from attending the conference.
The hundreds of attendees at the ICC Belfast on Wednesday included around 200 international delegates, including potential first-time investors from around the world.
The biggest announcement of the day came before the event even started.
Professional services group EY announced it will create 1,000 new jobs over the next five years in both Belfast and Derry.
The move has been backed by £4.6 million of support from Invest NI, while the Department for the Economy will fund an assured skills academy programme for 351 posts.
The DUP was keen to point out on Wednesday that the Windsor Framework has little to do with services.
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When asked by reporters when the north will start seeing the tangible benefits of the post-Brexit deal, Mr Heaton-Harris said: “About 500 of the tangible benefits are sat next door.
“Lots of people are in that room are here because they see benefits for their businesses to invest in Northern Ireland, because of what the Windsor Framework is bringing,” he said.
“On the 1st of October the first phase of the Windsor Framework comes in, and we will see a big difference in how trade flows and indeed how goods come into this country, so it’s all good news.”
Despite Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch telling reporters the summit “is not an event for politicians”, the domination of UK Government ministers on the podium reflected the fact the summit was largely a London-organised affair.
The Business Secretary was joined on the podium by Levelling Up Minister Michael Gove, NI Minister Steve Baker, Investment Minister Lord Dominic Johnson, as well as the Northern Ireland Secretary.
In his address, Mr Heaton-Harris told delegates that Northern Ireland has "enormous economic potential and is full of the talent and expertise required by the sectors of the future to succeed and to thrive".
Political leaders were among the crowd which filled the seats and standing room at the back as Mr Heaton-Harris said he expects progress around Stormont "very soon".
He said: "I had hoped by now that we would have an executive back up and running, for potential investors travelling here today to be met by ministers from Northern Ireland and discuss their ideas, sadly this has proved not to be the case.
"But my team and I have worked intensively with the DUP, and indeed all the main Northern Ireland political parties across the summer, and I'm genuinely hopeful that progress will be unlocked very, very soon.
"I know it will require courage on all sides to prioritise reconciliation and prosperity over division, but I know this can be done because it was done in spades 25 years ago to deliver the foundation of peace and prosperity here in Northern Ireland."
The summit, first announced during events to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, featured an exhibit of 19 companies from around the north, including Derry-based Respiratory Analytics, Collins Aerospace in Kilkeel, and Ballymena-based Wrightbus.
Delegates also heard from industry-led panels and took part in sessions focusing on advanced manufacturing and engineering, technology, financial and professional services, the green economy, and the life and health sciences sector.
