Text Resize : - Bookmark this article:
The theme of the conference which was sponsored by the Special EU Programmes Body under ICLRD's new INTERREG 1VA-funded programme-the Cross-border Spatial Planning and Training Network (CroSPlaN) was 'Preparing for Economic Recovery: Planning Ireland, North and South, out of recession.'
A number of speakers at the conference stressed that planning has a key role to play in securing economic recovery in both Irish jurisdictions, and that given much tighter government funding over the next few years, will have to concentrate on the medium to longer term.
The International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD), based in Armagh, is a North-South-US Partnership which aims to explore and expand the contribution that planning and the development of the physical, social and economic infrastructures can make to improving the lives of people in both jurisdictions and in particular emphasises the value of cross-border cooperation in planning.
The US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland Declan Kelly also attended the conference, and emphasised that indigenous development, leading to industry clusters where feasible, will be very relevant to the long term prosperity and successful sustainable development of the island, in today's fast-paced business world.
