Members of the North West Strategic Growth Partnership were delighted to return to a physical meeting this week to discuss the North West City Region’s strategic opportunities for economic growth and prosperity.
The Partnership meeting was held between senior Government officials from both the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive and civic leaders and officials from Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Members attending the in-person meeting received detailed updates from senior officers from both Councils and Government Departments on economic growth and investment in the North West City Region together with key actions to date.
Thematic discussions for 2023 were also considered with suggestions based on Strategic Priorities for the North West City Region including Tourism, Health and Further and Higher Education.
The meeting had a special focus on the North West City Region’s connectivity to the island in terms of roads, rail, and air infrastructure.
Delegates attending the meeting also received an updated report on the implementation of the North West Development Fund.
Jointly led by Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council, and chaired by An Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council and the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, the meeting was supported by the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD).
The recent meeting facilitated the launch of “Atlas for a City Region – Imagining the Post-Brexit Landscapes of the Irish Northwest” presented by Professor Gareth Doherty who was the lead researcher for this project and a native of Carndonagh in Co. Donegal.
The project ‘Atlas for a City Region’ was jointly commissioned by both Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council under the auspices of the North West Regional Development Group and has been borne out of the unique cross-border collaborative approach adopted by both Councils who are firmly of the view that despite Brexit, their region including Letterkenny, Derry and Strabane has the potential to continue to grow and prosper.
An Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Liam Blaney speaking after the meeting said he was delighted to be in a position to welcome everyone back to a physical meeting of the Partnership noting that this was the 12th meeting of this important forum.
In person meetings, he outlined, facilitated more effective communication, helps build on existing strong relationships and increases engagement, all key to the success of the Partnership.
He welcomed all those who had travelled to our region outlining that it was hugely important to get an update on the progress on economic growth and strategic investment in the Region and have senior Government officials working in partnership to drive forward ambitious plans for the North West City Region.
He said: “The North West Strategic Growth Partnership is our Regional driver for cross-border co-operation and is a focused forum for place-based leadership. This partnership aims to inform Central Government investment to meet the growth needs of our beautiful Region – where the Causeway Coastal Route meets the Wild Atlantic Way. Now, more than ever, it is important that this Region continues to be a platform for multi-jurisdictional co-operation so we can become a net contributor to our respective economies,” he said.
An Cathaoirleach, Cllr Liam Blaney referring to the “Atlas for a City Region” commended the work done by Harvard GSD students under the guidance of Donegal native Professor Gareth Doherty, Director of the Landscape Architecture program at Harvard GSD.
He said “This has been an exciting project for us to embark upon and I must commend the quality of the work, the imaginative and innovative proposals that have been presented to us. This project has been about getting a fresh outside perspective on what the opportunities are for our region. We have ambitious plans for our region and despite the challenges we face, we believe that we have the confidence and resilience to allow our communities and businesses to continue to thrive and prosper,” he said.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)