Northern Ireland - An Overview

Northern Ireland Geography
Northern Ireland comprises the six north-eastern counties of the island of Ireland and is part of the United Kingdom (UK) - a G8 nation and member of the European Union (EU) with a GDP greater than that of the United States.
A key characteristic of the country's 1.7 million population is its youth, with 45% of the population under the age of 30.
Belfast, the capital, is 5 1/ 2 hours flying time from New York, one hour from London and less than 2 hours from Paris.

Northern Ireland Economy
Throughout the 1990s, Northern Ireland has enjoyed the fastest economic growth of any region of the UK, with manufacturing output up 19.2% on the past five years - more than ten times the national rate. Furthermore, during the same period industrial production rose by more than 27% - against 14.5% for the UK as a whole.
(Source DETI 'Quarterly Strategic Information Report' - June 2002).

Northern Ireland Worforce
Northern Ireland offers:
a highly educated, adaptable and motivated labour force with a strong work ethic
an average labour cost significantly lower than in most European regions
an education system which consistently produces the UK's highest academic achievers and supplies industry with a well-qualified and skilled labour force.