NC Chamber Working to Strengthen Economic Alliances

The NC Chamber was in Northern Ireland in November as part of an ongoing effort to deepen relationships between the NC Chamber and Northern Ireland Chamber and encourage greater economic opportunities for citizens and businesses in both jurisdictions.

In March 2024, the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry and NC Chamber signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the first international MOU for both organizations.

The MOU marked the start of a new relationship between NI Chamber and the NC Chamber, with both parties committing to work together to promote international trade, investment, and cooperation. It includes pledges to leverage existing synergies between both economies, share research and learning, and foster new relationships between businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

As a next step in the relationship, NC Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido and VP of Government Affairs Jake Cashion visited Belfast and met with a number of companies looking to invest in North Carolina.

• Artemis Technologies is a clean maritime technology company developing commercial vessels which produce zero emissions in operation. The Artemis team took our team for a spin in Belfast Harbor on their all-electric hydrofoil boat.
• Catagen is a Belfast-based company on a mission to ‘clean and decarbonize the air’ with sustainable aviation fuel. We look forward to connecting them with NC Chamber members in the aviation industry.
• B-Secure is a medical software company creating technology used in wearable health devices. B-Secure recently received FDA approval and is now looking to sell product to businesses in the United States. The company has a particular interest in North Carolina thanks to the health care technology ecosystem that exists in the state.
• Salter Grange is a recruiting company working specifically in the construction, property, and engineering sectors. They are interested in expanding into the Charlotte, North Carolina market.
• Studio Ulster is a global production center of excellence, boasting the most technologically advanced facilities in the world. This highly advanced facility has a direct connection to Ulster University for their talent supply and will be a household name for movies, streaming series and other onscreen pictures.

A visit to Queen’s University Belfast educated our team on the strategic investments in research and innovation in artificial intelligence, AgTech, life sciences, and fintech. Gary and Jake visited their center of innovation, which includes three innovation hubs that are part of the University’s Belfast Region City Deal.

• Momentum One-Zero is a state-of-the-art facility aimed at fostering a strong research culture and increasing digital innovation in the region.
• iReach Health Center is a patient-centered, pro-innovation clinical research center focused on health care advancements.
• Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center is focused on industrial growth.

The NC Chamber team also visited Ulster University, a multi-campus public research university in Northern Ireland. Together, Ulster University and Queen’s University have 70,000 students, representing the vast majority of Northern Ireland’s future workforce.

Gary and Jake joined Northern Ireland business leaders and US diplomats for a dinner at the US consulate’s home. The US Consulate General Belfast is the second longest serving US consulate in the world, showing the strength of the relationship between the US and Northern Ireland.

It was a pleasure for the team to meet several elected officials, including Lord Mayor Micky Murray and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

The group also met with Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Edwin Poots who shared more about the needs of Northern Ireland. He noted they are paying close attention to the tariff conversations coming out of Washington, D.C. following the election.

Attending the Invest Northern Ireland Stakeholder Summit marked the release of Invest NI’s three-year business strategy.

Another highlight of the trip was attending the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce’s President’s Gala where 1,000 guests gathered at ICC Belfast for what is known as the biggest night in the Northern Ireland business calendar each year. The NC Chamber was proud to be mentioned in NI Chamber President Cat McCusker’s remarks:

“The past 12 months have been marked by new milestones and in particular new partnerships, based on our firm belief that collaboration is the best way to deliver shared economic prosperity.

The team has been thinking ‘big’ and has formed some productive alliances, including signing NI Chamber’s first international MOU with NC Chamber back in March.

Over the course of the past few days, Gary and Jake have shared with us some of the mindset shifts which transformed North Carolina into the top US state for business.

One of the phrases that motivates them struck us…

‘If not us, if not you, then who…the time is now’

Just think about that – the top US state for business wants to work with us.”

“We are incredibly grateful to the Northern Ireland Chamber for their hospitality and the opportunity to deepen our partnership during our recent visit,” said NC Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido. “Their commitment to fostering collaboration and economic growth aligns closely with our goals in North Carolina, and we look forward to the continued expansion of our work together. Together, we are paving the way for even greater opportunities for businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Special thank you to Suzanne Wylie, chief executive of the NI Chamber, and her team for their gracious hospitality, and to Justin Sosne, head of the UK Government’s North Carolina Office, for joining us and being a great partner. We are thrilled with the opportunities to come from these relationships.