Margaret Ritchie MLA, Minister For Social Development on Victoria Square opening

Thank you Eamonn [Eamonn Holmes].  I'm delighted to be here to talk about a great success story – Victoria Square.

Before I begin, I would, like to acknowledge my ministerial colleagues, the First Minister and deputy First Minister.  Thank you for being here.

I would also like to acknowledge the many city centre stakeholders in the audience.  Your continued involvement in the commercial life of Belfast has secured the city centre’s future success.

Today, our thoughts must be with the future, for Belfast is changing.  A new beginning is beckoning with the completion of the magnificent Victoria Square Regeneration Scheme.

I congratulate Multi Development, CGI, Farrans Gilbert Ash and all those who have been involved in working with my Department to develop Victoria Square. You have done a great job.

I also welcome the House of Fraser and all of the other new retailers and restaurateurs to Belfast. Your investment is most welcome.

Belfast is proving itself once again as a great destination for retail, offices, leisure and city centre living.

The evening economy has returned to our city streets creating a bright and modern living experience.  

The City is ready to seize the potential for thousands of new jobs from growth in the retail and leisure sectors.

This urban renaissance is far from finished.

In a world where the challenge for Northern Ireland is not just how to secure a competitive advantage over other European regions but increasingly, China, India and the developing world, the question is how can we sustain progress and create truly world class towns and cities.

That does require big projects, such as Victoria Square, and investment decisions about the strategic direction of Northern Ireland.

During the past 10 months, we have witnessed an unprecedented level of cooperation within our Legislative Assembly and between Northern Ireland’s public, business and community sectors.

We are focusing on making the necessary long-term investments in our infrastructure to promote sustainable growth.

The Northern Ireland Executive’s Investment Strategy aims to build a 21st Century infrastructure.

There is evidence of this investment already underway all around Belfast.

The Executive is also addressing the skills gap by focusing on education and workforce development to meet the needs of a modern economy.

There's a new confidence in our urban centres thanks to the peace dividend.

There exists today an unprecedented level of interest in Belfast from international investors and visitors.

6.8 million visitors travelled to Belfast in 2006 including 1.25 million from outside Northern Ireland.  This is a massive change in the City’s fortunes when only 200,000 would have visited a decade ago.

We are also beginning to meet the needs and aspirations of our people for greater prosperity.  This is in no small way due to the political stability which we are now enjoying.  

Our neighbourhoods are the foundation of Northern Ireland’s future.  My Department has made neighbourhood renewal a priority.  We are starting to implement regeneration frameworks for the most deprived areas.

These plans will provide a roadmap for investors and deliver a better quality of life for our people.  Renewing our most deprived neighbourhoods to create a society where nobody is disadvantaged by where they live.  

Today the eyes of the world are upon Belfast.  

Daniel Burnham who produced the plan for the magnificent city of Chicago said “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood.... Make big plans... aim high in hope and work.”

I trust that Victoria Square will this evening have stirred our imagination for the further magic to come in transforming our cities and towns throughout Northern Ireland.

Thank you.