JBC North West Plenary 14 Apr 2011

The Joint Business Council Business and Economy Forum on 14th April, 2011 in City Hotel Conference Centre in Derry/Londonderry attracted representatives from business, government and consultancy in Northern Ireland and Ireland.

The plenary business and economy forum chaired by Terence Brannigan; Chairman, CBI Northern Ireland, heard from speakers Juan José Ibarretxe Markuartu; former President of Spain’s Basque Country; Danny McCoy; Director General, IBEC and Dr. John Bradley; International Research Consultant. The plenary discussed the future of EU regional policy and the development of competitive cross-border regions.

Pictured at the JBC North West Plenary were Nigel Smyth, CBI; Reg McCabe, JBC and Ibarretxe Markuartu, former President of Spain's Basque Country.

The plenary heard a presentation to the forum by Mr. Ibarretxe Markuartu who discussed the social and economic structure and model of the Basque Country focusing on innovation and sustainable human development.

The deep partnership structures between government, business, society and non-profit stakeholders in Basque Country, helped to deliver and manage economic growth according to Mr. Ibarretxe Markuartu who outlined comparative EU statistics of economic and social progress in the Basque Country, indicated by increased GDP-per-capita, labour productivity, educational attainment and human development.

Mr. Juan José Ibarretxe Markuartu outlined the unique structure of the Basque fiscal system, applying ‘selective’ tax deductions to companies, who shared a common economic and social vision of the Basque Country. The nominal corporate tax rate of 28 per cent, with supporting rates of 12 per cent and 10 per cent only applied, if the companies demonstrated a ‘strong commitment to the Basque Country’. This guaranteed stable economic and social development and partnership structures ensured common ‘shared leadership’ among key stakeholders.  

Other speakers to the plenary included the Mayor of Derry, Cllr. Colum Eastwood, David Sweet, Adviser to DGREGIO; Kieran Moylan, Director of BMW Regional Assembly; Mark Durkan, MP, Foyle; Michael Heaney, Director of Enterprise, Donegal County Council; Mr. Joe McHugh, TD, Donegal North East.

Mr. Danny McCoy spoke of the scale of the challenges faced, with cross-border cooperation and development needed to build a strong, competitive economy in the North West region. The Joint Business Council as a voice for business has been working with business, government and strategic partners increasing cross-border trade and business development.

The imminent changes to EU regional policy priorities and oversight requiring changed governance structures, underlines the changed realities, in the context of the current economic climate; this requires stakeholders to work closely together to meet common objectives.

The plenary heard from Dr. John Bradley, outlining the movement of EU regional funds towards Eastern European member states and the present regional policy orientation under the Interreg programme to improve competitiveness of cross-border regions and develop a competitive all-island economy.

Dr. Bradley outlined the need for close cooperation in the region and the development of regional, organic links with national economies and the wider global economy. The North West region should focus on developing core capabilities in the region, cooperating in a shared economic partnership to achieve growth and economic development.

The event programme is available for download here:

JBC event programme

 

 

 

 

IBEC
Special EU Programmes Body
EU
CBI