Question to the First and deputy Ministers

Minister's Answer

We have to continually keep under review the role played by all our offices. I certainly want to do that as part of our international strategy. For me, the role of any of our offices is threefold. It has to be about diplomacy, advancing diplomatic relationships and building relationships. That is important if we are to get business done. It is about developing economic and trade interest, including our current investments. It is about maintaining those relationships and also looking for new opportunities. It is about developing new partnerships in trade etc, particularly given the challenging times that we live in. All our offices must tick all those boxes in what they do. If that were not the case, I would want to review that. The international strategy will give us an opportunity to do that as well.