UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY…Theresa Villiers in Fermanagh recently
Article submitted by Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers…
“THE G8 Summit is a unique opportunity for Co Fermanagh.
“As I stood by the Lough in the sunshine at the weekend, during the latest of many visits over recent months, I felt that the scenic beauty of Fermanagh would provide a really inspirational setting to do that.
It was David Cameron’s idea to bring the G8 here. He and I are determined to use it to promote Northern Ireland on the world stage. And there’s no better setting to do that than Lough Erne.
“We want to ensure that Northern Ireland gets the best from the summit. We’re also looking at how to secure long-term benefits for trade, tourism, investment and jobs.
“The G8 leaders will be discussing big global problems. They have the potential to affect every single person in Fermanagh and Northern Ireland.
“Our focus is on three areas – trade, tax and transparency.
“On trade, we want break down barriers in order to deliver growth and prosperity. For example, we hope to launch negotiations on a free trade area between Europe and the US. That could give a big boost to businesses and help us compete in the global race.
“On tax, we need to take international action to tackle aggressive tax avoidance. We’re on the side of people who want to work hard and get on in life, and that means making sure that big business pays its fair share of tax along with everyone else.
“And on transparency, we want to promote more openness on business and land deals, especially in developing countries, so that the public can hold their Governments to account.
“This will help ensure that local populations benefit from their country’s natural resources. That will create jobs and growth in the developing world, reducing the need for aid and helping to lift people out of poverty for good.
“There will inevitably be some disruption in Fermanagh due to necessary security measures. And there could well be protests. I know that the PSNI, are doing everything can to keep any inconvenience to a minimum.
“This is going to be a huge week for Fermanagh as it takes global centre-stage.
“I for one am looking forward to this fantastic opportunity to showcase Fermanagh to the world.”
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