McGrath to visit Stormont to meet NI Finance Minister
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Minister for Finance Michael McGrath will travel to Stormont to meet his Northern Ireland Executive counterpart, Dr Caoimhe Archibald, for the first time.
He will also visit a number of projects in Belfast which are supported by the Government’s Reconciliation Fund.
Minister McGrath hopes to build what is described as a “cooperative and collaborative” working relationship with Finance Minister Archibald, who is a Sinn Féin MLA.
He said: “This meeting provides an excellent opportunity to discuss our shared economic interests, the all-island economy and the shared opportunities and challenges we face.
“We now have an opportunity, with the Executive restored and greater certainty around key issues such as post-Brexit trade, to maximise the potential of the economic relationships on this island.”
Cross-border trade has increased in recent years.
At the start of this decade total trade in goods and services amounted to under €5 billion, while in 2022 this rose to €11.6 billion.
The Government hopes that the North South Ministerial Council, a key body established under the Good Friday Agreement, will meet soon and bring together ministers from departments across both administrations.