Friday, July 11, 2008

Belfast: Open for Business


Belfast: Open for Business
A decade after the Good Friday peace agreement, Northern Ireland's economy is blossoming.


That's right! Belfast Northern Ireland is booming according to an article in Business week On July the 3rd.

Source

The article states that the Peace accord is finally paying off economically and that Belfast is becoming a real boom Town with businesses such as Citigroup, GE Healthcare, and Microsoft setting up shop. During the past 10 years over 100,000 jobs were created and that the unemployment rate, which used to be one of the worst in the UK, is at a 26 year low of 3.9%.

Why do I care?

Well for one, this article shows that if the governments of city's and towns are willing to work with businesses and corporations then prosperity can be had. I have known that to be the case for many years, but with my limited education and lack of political contacts I have been unable to convey this simple theory unto our elected leaders. Here before them today, rests evidence of the greatest magnitude.

The City of Belfast has been the center for much violence and discord for generations. Aptly named " the Troubles" the period from the late sixties until 1998, the violent struggle between the various factions of Loyalists and Republicans made the city a very tough place to get on indeed. During the 70's and 80's the PIRA actually performed bombing campaigns against foreign owned businesses. This of course, curbed any desire for companies to invest monies domestically as well as internationally.

I believe that if Belfast NI can overcome all of the terrible challenges of the Troubles and find a way to become economically prosperous, then there is a small glimmer of hope for us here in Maine. For this State, and it's communities, bear a likeness to Northern Ireland, sans the violence of the past. The only issue I see that our Leaders might raise is " taxes".

The tax incentive idea to entice business to invest in an area is not new or faulty, but what we see time and time again is that City, Town and State Representatives, just can't stomach the idea of not grabbing every penny they can from every source. Thus tax burden is of great concern and measure in new business development. This shortsighted and obtuse outlook has hindered our progress here for generations and will continue to do so until we can elect some people with common sense and intelligence.
Here's a quandary, Belfast being part of the UK, has a higher tax rate than the Republic of Ireland to the South, 28% compared to 12.5% corporate respectively. So why would Microsoft chose Belfast over Dublin, or for that matter Portland Maine?
Because, Belfast offers what we do not, Highly educated and skilled workers, Government cooperation in business set up, and incentives for businesses to create jobs and bolster the economy.


The second reason I take great pleasure in the prosperity of Belfast is that for two years now I have been telling every hapless soul who would listen, that Northern Ireland is the place to invest. The educated, hardworking, English speaking people of Northern Ireland are the perfect fit for industries of all types, and finally someone agrees with my assessment. My friend Vince, turned me on to this article, has been listening to my views on the subject for that entire time. It feels good to be right about something every once in a while.

So take heed, you Senators and Congressmen, you town Managers and Board Members, Prosperity can be had, we can all succeed and live comfortably, each and every one of us, if you would just get your heads out of the sand.
If that is too difficult of a task then just get out of the way and let us grow.

Slainte'
Blighter

The attached Photo is of Victoria Mall in Belfast
Special thanks to Vince for sending me the article and listening to my Tirades.

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