Cree appointed DETI Spokesperson
North Down Ulster Unionist Leslie Cree MLA has been appointed Party spokesman for Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI).
One of nine Committee Members who will sit on the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Mr Cree has been actively involved in Economic Development for many years and is also the UUP representative on the Government’s Advisory Council for Infrastructure and Investment. Representing North Down Borough Council, the local politician is a Director of North Down Business Village Company and holds Chair positions on the Council’s Economic Development Sub-Committee and International Relations Committee. He represents the Borough in the European Edge Cities network and is a member of the Economic Development Forum.
Commenting on his new appointment the former Regional Development spokesman said, “I am very pleased to have been appointed to this position and feel my experience and background in economic affairs will be of great benefit. Economic Development is crucially important to all of us and I will continue to develop our Enterprise Trade and Investment opportunities.”
Mr Cree continued, “The overall aim of DETI is to develop a globally competitive economy in Northern Ireland and its main objectives are to encourage the development of an innovative, enterprising and competitive economy that will lead to greater wealth creation and job opportunities for all. Northern Ireland and indeed North Down is entitled to a share of further economic growth that is now available to us through a stable local Government.”
DETI is structured in several ways. The Department sponsors four agencies that play a key role in shaping and implementing economic development policy. These include Invest NI, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland and the General Consumer Council. DETI also acts as a co-sponsor Department to two other organisations set up under the Belfast Agreement which include Intertrade Ireland and Tourism Ireland.
Other aspects of DETI include primary funding of the Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP), a third party Organisation established to strengthen NI’s research infrastructure; Geological Survey of NI (GSNI). Along with DRD and DFP, DETI works with the independent Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation (NIAUR).
The first Committee Meeting for DETI was held on Thursday 17 May 2007.