AQW 171/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 18/05/2022
Answered On Date: 31/05/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail the ways in which he will improve business connectivity and infrastructure.

Answer:

Business infrastructure/connectivity is a complex landscape referring to a wide range of facilities and services including transport infrastructure, broadband, networking, business services, energy and technology. Project Stratum, funded under the DUP/Conservative Confidence and Supply Deal, represents a total investment of almost £200million that is transforming the broadband connectivity bringing gigabit capable service to 85,000 premises in rural areas right across Northern Ireland. Plans associated with Department’s rollout of future broadband connectivity initiatives, in line with UK Government policy, will be announced in the coming months. A strategic vision has been set out in the 10X Economic Vision that focuses on Northern Ireland’s strengths in priority technologies and clusters where we can be world leaders; investing in and supporting our people; diffusing innovation across our economy; taking a new approach to funding; and focusing and capitalising on what makes Northern Ireland unique.

A series of announcements have been made including the NI City and Growth Deal programme will unlock £1.5billion of investment from the public and private sectors, £170million of funding for three cutting edge innovation projects at Queen’s University Belfast, a multimillion pound project focussing on creative industries, data analytics, robotics and digital health lead by Ulster University. Having produced an energy strategy, The Path to Net Zero, and associated 2022 Action Plan which sets out a vision to deliver self-sufficiency in affordable renewable energy for Northern Ireland. These actions will grow and evolve our local economy to the new and emerging challenges Northern Ireland faces.