Northern Ireland

British cabinet minister Sajid Javid visits Belfast after announcement of £1 billion 'region city deal'

British communities secretary Sajid Javid met Belfast Lord Mayor Nuala McAllister during a visit to the city to discuss a ten-year investment plan worth £1 billion. Picture by Belfast City Council
British communities secretary Sajid Javid met Belfast Lord Mayor Nuala McAllister during a visit to the city to discuss a ten-year investment plan worth £1 billion. Picture by Belfast City Council British communities secretary Sajid Javid met Belfast Lord Mayor Nuala McAllister during a visit to the city to discuss a ten-year investment plan worth £1 billion. Picture by Belfast City Council

BRITISH cabinet minister Sajid Javid has visited Belfast to meet businesses and elected representatives ahead of an expected £1 billion investment in the city and surrounding area.

It follows an announcement by chancellor Philip Hammond in the autumn budget statement that he would "open negotiations for a Belfast Region City deal".

Such a deal would be a 10-year investment plan aimed at improving infrastructure, supporting businesses and attracting jobs.

Mr Javid, the communities secretary and Tory MP for Bromsgrove, met with Belfast Lord Mayor Nuala McAllister and visited the recently opened Immersive Tech Hub in the former Belfast Telegraph building where he met small businesses.

He then headed to ECIT Technology in the Titanic Quarter, where an event was held involving business and council representatives.

Mr Javid tweeted: "Thrilled to visit Belfast today to hear how a City Deal....could help to unlock huge economic potential of Belfast City Region. I love this city!"