Carla Lockhart MP has praised the resilience of local business and said the area is very much open for new business, as well over 100 local business leaders joined the MP and local MLAs Diane Dodds and Jonathan Buckley at a DUP Business Breakfast at the Seagoe Hotel. First Minister Paul Givan MLA, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA and Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA spoke at the event.

Carla Lockhart said:



“it was a pleasure to host this Business Breakfast and I want to express my thanks to everyone who took time from their busy schedules to attend.

Upper Bann is very much open for business and over recent months we have had several announcements of new investments and new jobs. We also have a very strong manufacturing, agri-food and retail base in the area, and despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic and the Northern Ireland Protocol, these businesses have displayed real resilience and are now very much looking forward to the future.

Obviously key to a successful future is support from Government in making Northern Ireland a good place to do business. The Executive and UK Government stood by many businesses with support in direct payments and furlough but emerging from the pandemic it is vital that that business is given the backing to succeed.

I want to thank my colleagues the First Minister Paul Givan MLA, Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA and Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots MLA for attending this business breakfast. It gave local business an opportunity to raise concerns and express their hopes for the future and share ideas. The DUP is committed to making Upper Bann and Northern Ireland the best place to do business and we will strive to this end at Stormont and Westminster.”