The First Minister and deputy First Minister are taking the message that the Economy tops the Executive's agenda to the most prestigious US financial and political institutions this week.

A visit to the New York stock exchange on Wall Street and a meeting with the Mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg marked the start of the Ministers' week long visit to the USA. Their visit culminates with a meeting with President George Bush in the White House on Friday.

In the course of their trip Dr Ian Paisley MP, MLA and Martin McGuinness, MP, MLA will be undertaking a series of engagements in New York and Washington including meetings with many leading political and business figures to promote the local economy and the forthcoming economic conference which is to take place in Belfast in May next year.

Amongst other high profile engagements Ministers will undertake in New York will be visits to the Stock Exchange and NASDAQ as well as meetings with many leading corporate figures.

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The Washington leg of the trip will see Ministers visit Capitol Hill where they will have discussions with leading members of Senate and Congress and other meetings will include those with US Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Head of the National Security Council Steve Hadley.

The visit will conclude with a meeting with President George Bush in the White House.

Speaking at the outset of their trip Dr Paisley described it as a: "Hugely important visit for Northern Ireland. It provides an opportunity to engage at the highest level with US business and political leaders. The message we will be bringing with us is that we want to build on the special relationship which has long existed with the US with a view to the betterment of the people of Northern Ireland.

"Northern Ireland is open for business and is ready to meet the challenges that lie ahead. We have never been in a better position to boost our economic prospects but in order to do so inward investment will play a crucial part. We are here to promote our Province to the leaders of business and commerce as well as civic and political representatives."

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness said: "The Executive which myself and the First Minister jointly head has put the economy at the top of our priorities. We are here in the US not just to thank them for their help and support in the past but to impress on them that we are determined to build on the political progress that we have made by building a vibrant economy which will offer real opportunities not just for our people but for those who chose to invest in it."

The ministers concluded by making an open invitation to US businesses to come and see first hand what Northern Ireland has to offer.

(GK/JM)