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PM to bring G8 to Northern Ireland

David Cameron has confirmed that next year's G8 summit of world leaders will be held in Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

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Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed that next year’s G8 summit of world leaders will be held at Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

The Prime Minister made the announcement during a ‘PM Direct’ question and answer session at a factory in Northern Ireland. 

During the session Mr Cameron explained that the UK’s G8 Presidency will focus on securing global growth and prosperity through championing open economies, open governments, and open societies.

Read about the Prime Minister’s G8 priorities in the full transcript of this session.

Mr Cameron described the choice of venue as personal, saying he looked forward to welcoming fellow leaders to Lough Erne to showcase Northern Ireland to the world as a modern and dynamic part of the United Kingdom that is open for business, with huge potential for investment and tourism.

The Prime Minister said:

And there’s another reason I wanted to stand here today, in this factory, is that I want to make an important announcement about a big investment, I hope, that is coming to Northern Ireland. And that is this: next year Britain will be the chairman of the G8 group of countries, eight of the most important and powerful nations in the world .

And as Chairman of the G8, I get to decide where to hold the big G8 conference next year, on the 17th and 18th of June. And I’ve decided the right place to hold it, is right here in Northern Ireland. And we will be holding the G8 at Lough Erne in County Fermanagh.

I think this will be a brilliant advertisement for Northern Ireland. I want the world to see just what a fantastic place Northern Ireland is: a great place for business; a great place for investment; a place with an incredibly educated and trained workforce, ready to work for international businesses. And I also, want to show the world what a beautiful place Northern Ireland is and Lough Erne, where I was this morning, is one of the most beautiful places in the entire United Kingdom.

I hope I won’t have any trouble keeping President Obama off the golf course, because it’s a pretty amazing golf course, but I think it’ll be a great moment for Northern Ireland and I’m really pleased to make that announcement today.

Published 20 November 2012