Fintech a “key priority area” for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s fintech sector is a “key priority area”, the region’s economy minister has said.
Speaking at the first ever Northern Ireland Fintech Symposium, which took place in Belfast yesterday (March 23), Northern Ireland Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA said that the region is building a “global reputation in fintech”, underpinned by a highly skilled and adaptable workforce and “business friendly culture with innovation and collaboration at its core”.
The symposium was hosted by Fintech NI and saw more than 70 delegates come together to discuss the future of fintech in Northern Ireland. Fintech NI aims to create thousands more jobs in the fintech sector and attract more than £25m in foreign direct investment to the province.
Attendees heard from Innovate Finance, the industry body for fintech in the UK, as well as fintech leaders from Northern Ireland, Scotland, the North of England and the West Midlands. Key topics of discussion included how to strengthen the local fintech sector by progressing the local investment landscape and safeguarding the skills and talent pipeline.
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“The world might be changing rapidly, but we can always rely on the vibrant business community in Northern Ireland to continue innovating and positioning our region as one of the world’s elite small economies,” said Lyons.
“Nowhere is this clearer than in fintech, a sector that has grown significantly in recent years to become a key priority area.”
“It is sectors like fintech that are at the heart of our economic vision, the 10x Economy, and have the potential to be a window of opportunity for Northern Ireland.
“It is fantastic to see the Fintech NI Association bring the sector together to celebrate all that’s been achieved to date, and more importantly set out the steps to becoming a stronger, more vibrant community that will have benefits right across society.”
The event was supported by A&L Goodbody, Invest Northern Ireland, Deloitte and Fintech Nexus.
Andrew Jenkins, chair of Fintech NI and HMT Fintech Envoy for Northern Ireland said that the event “will be the first of many as we seek to implement our three-year strategy and take the fintech sector to the next level.”
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