Major US firm looking at former Seagate plant in Limavady

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said that during the current financial year a major company from the United States visited both the former army base and the former Seagate plant, in the only visit to the Limavady area by a potential inward investor in at least three years.

The Minister declined to provide any further details about the nature of the company or any plans they might have for the area, although she did outline what requirements a potential investor will typically look at.

Mrs Foster had been asked by East Londonderry MLA John Dallat to detail the number of potential inward investors that have visited the Limavady area in each of the last three years.

Mrs Foster replied: “During the current financial year Invest NI has facilitated an inward investment visit by a major, US-owned company that included visits to the former Seagate premises at Dowland Road, Limavady, and the former Shackleton Barracks site in Ballykelly.

“A potential investor’s requirements will vary depending on the nature of the project, but a company will typically look at existing investors in the same business sector (Invest NI’s key target sectors being ICT, business and professional services, financial services and renewables); universities and colleges that offer courses relating to that sector; and suitable, available property.”