Sir, - In a report headed "Small firms criticise new body" (The Irish Times, August 21st), Francess McDonnell quotes Bill Jeffrey of the Federation of Small Business in Northern Ireland as being "disappointed that there are no high-profile figures from the small business sector" on the shadow board of Invest Northern Ireland.
I would like to take this opportunity to correct any mis-understanding either Mr Jeffrey or anyone else may have about the make up of INI's shadow board, to which I have recently appointed eight members, including the chairman, Prof Fabian Monds.
I consider that the INI shadow board is very well balanced and includes a number of members with considerable small business experience. Three of the members, including Prof Monds, Mrs Teresa Townsley and Gilbert Little, have set up their own businesses and developed these significantly and therefore have the experience required. In addition, a further two members, Bill McGinnis and Alan McClure, have played major roles in developing existing small businesses which now export to many markets.
The desirable criteria employed when selecting shadow board candidates sought individuals to demonstrate knowledge and experience of starting up a business and experience of owning and/or managing a small or medium-sized business. This desirable criteria was clearly met by a number of successful candidates.
Your report acknowledges that "small businesses are the backbone of the Northern Ireland economy". Indeed, in my statement announcing the appointments to the shadow board I again reiterated the point that Northern Ireland is very much a small firms economy and that Invest Northern Ireland will be required to place a prime focus on the needs of small businesses.
I also acknowledged that the challenge facing INI will be to help small and medium-sized enterprises to win an increasing share of international business in markets that are increasingly competitive and more globally focused.
In respect to business birth rates it is recognised that Invest Northern Ireland will need to marry Northern Ireland's higher than average level of new business survival to a much-needed higher rate of business births.
As a final point, it is important to note that the present board is a shadow board and will remain so until INI comes into existence. - Yours, etc.,
Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Stormont, Belfast.