Business Leaders Welcome Road and Air Announcements

Richard Sterling, NWCCI Board Member and current President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, this week welcomed the long awaited road improvement scheme at Skeoge Link in Londonderry. "Skeoge is one of the key arterial routes crucial to the development of the City. The completion of this strategic route from Foyle Bridge through to Buncrana Road and on to Donegal is an essential key to unlocking further housing and industrial development in the area. This will also greatly improve access to and from Donegal." He said.

Niall Birthistle, Chairman of NWCCI echoed this view adding that, "the impact of this development will be felt even further a field with enormous benefits for cross border trade and employment. The North West Region has been devastated by job losses and factory closures therefore this investment, together with the building of the business park, will help to invigorate the area and should encourage investment on both sides of the border.

NWCCI also warmly welcomed the announcement this week from Ryanair which detailed their plans for route development from City of Derry Airport to a string of airports in UK and Europe which spells good news for business and tourism. "This is a vote of confidence in the region and in the airport", says Mr Sterling. NWCCI has consistently drawn attention to the vital importance for the local economy of access to the North West region. "Businesses depend on good access to and from this region, and we need to keep enforcing this message to the powers that be. Further access to the region will also help to drive growth in the tourism sector which has the potential to be a major revenue stream for the North West Economy."