INVEST NI Launches New App to Promote Northern Ireland

INVEST Northern Ireland has launched a new mobile app to help promote Northern Ireland to potential inward investors. The app, which can be adapted by local councils to promote their own area, contains useful information for investors including details on infrastructure, people and skills, and cost of living.  The app will be available on all platforms, including Android, iOS, Blackberry and Windows. Launching the app, Invest NI CEO Alastair Hamilton said: “This new app will promote key information about Northern Ireland as an investment location in a new and interactive way.    [caption id="attachment_36244" align="alignleft" width="390"]At the launch were Alderman Allan Ewart, Lisburn City Centre Manaement Chairman, Alderman Jim Dillon, Chairman of Lisburn Economic Development Committee, Colin McClintock, Director of Environmental Srvices, and Alastair Hamilton, Invest NI CEO. At the launch were Alderman Allan Ewart, Lisburn City Centre Manaement Chairman, Alderman Jim Dillon, Chairman of Lisburn Economic Development Committee, Colin McClintock, Director of Environmental Srvices, and Alastair Hamilton, Invest NI CEO.[/caption] As well as providing useful information about Northern Ireland it will also allow investors to read about the experiences of others who have already invested in Northern Ireland, and to benchmark us against other potential locations around the world.  The information is presented in a format that is easily accessible, easy to read and easily updated.

We will be proactively working with the local councils in Northern Ireland to support their use of a mobile app.  Using the Northern Ireland version as a template, each council will be able to populate their own app with information specific to their area which they can then use to promote their region to potential investors.

Down District Council Councillor Cadogan Enright said on welcoming the news of the apps announcement : “This is an interesting development, and could potentially be used by Down District Council’s own Jobs Task Force to promote our Drive for Public Sector Employment. As Chairperson of the Task force, I will raise it at our next meeting. “We do need to attract more investment into the South Down area and create more permanent jobs and in particular Down District. Over the years it has been ignored.

“I think I will also refer it to the Economic Development committee in Council to see if we can use it to promote the private sector locating in Downpatrick too.”

Lisburn City Council has worked in partnership with Invest NI to pilot the development of the region specific app.  Alderman Jim Dillon, Chairman of the Council’s Economic Development Committee said: “The Council has for some time encouraged local companies to adopt and make use of new technologies, so it’s great to be able to lead by example through the development of this mobile app.  The Council recognises the economic benefits which can be realised as the app can be used to promote local development opportunities, promote Lisburn as a location to new business and investors as well as showcasing the city through international trade programmes and at conferences.” Alderman Allan Ewart, Chairman of Lisburn City Centre Management attended the launch and said: “There is no doubt that smart technology means we can make information readily available to investors. By creating this app we will be able to provide interested inward investors with access to top level information specific to Lisburn, quickly and easily.  We will monitor its uptake and hopefully build on this rapidly expanding technology.” Alastair Hamilton added: “We hope all councils across Northern Ireland will embrace this new tool and develop their own region specific version. The Northern Ireland mobile app is available to download on the AppStore, Google PlayStore and at http://mobile.investni.com The Lisburn City Council mobile app is available to download at http://lisburn.fdiapp.com]]>