Resilience and an ability to adapt to change has been key to the growth and success of both Belfast Harbour and NI’s manufacturing sector over the years – and this will be all the more vital in the immediate future, says Belfast Harbour CEO Joe O’Neill.
As the leading gateway and key economic hub for trade in the region, Belfast Harbour has developed a close understanding of the vital role the manufacturing sector plays in promoting economic growth and driving innovation.
From bringing in the raw materials which enable companies to operate, to enabling the movement of manufactured goods out to market, our role is a crucial one in the day-to-day operation of this sector.
This support spans a broad range of commodities, from the livestock feed that underpins the meat and dairy industries, to steel coils distributed to manufacturing sites across the province, contributing to the production of plant equipment, agricultural machinery, and various industrial applications. We also handle paper and timber, essential components found in countless everyday products and processes, further reinforcing our role in supporting the full breadth of the manufacturing ecosystem.
For nearly 180 years we’ve continued, not only to operate, but to grow and succeed through everything from economic recessions to world wars. We’ve become increasingly resilient against the ongoing tides of change.
We find ourselves now operating within a world and a wider economy which is managing a new set of challenges, from the war in Ukraine to the USA’s evolving economic policies.
As these recent global events have shown, resilience cannot just be the cornerstone of our past but must be the key to navigating what would seem to be a very uncertain path ahead.
The launch of our 2025-29 Strategy at the beginning of this year – with its overarching goal to Advance Regional Prosperity – is therefore all the more prescient, not only for Belfast Harbour’s continued development, but for those who depend upon us for the materials and goods which keep the wheels of business and manufacturing in motion.
The central pillar of this plan is to Enable Economic Growth, to which end we will be making a substantial investment of £313 million into our port and estate by the end of 2029. A significant part of this – £208 million in total – will be invested into modernising our facilities and boosting our capabilities, tying in with another key strategy pillar – To Develop and Improve Your Port.
This will see tangible improvements being made to our infrastructure and equipment, including new sustainably-powered cranes, planning for the rebuild of Stormont Wharf – a key entry point for many of the materials used within the regional manufacturing sector – and logistics facilities that set new standards for sustainability, safety and flexibility.
Investing in this way will improve and enhance our ability to move goods into and out of the port as quickly and efficiently as possible, something which will only serve to benefit the business and manufacturing sector in this region.
Supporting the development of advanced manufacturing will also be key in meeting another strategic pillar, to Innovate for a Better Tomorrow. We will strive to create innovation clusters in offshore wind, green tech and cyber security, as well as using our unique location and infrastructure to attract manufacturers who want to leverage NI’s unique dual market access.
Along with our commitment to Create Vibrant Places to Live and Work, everything we set out to achieve in this strategy will be done so under the overarching commitment to Accelerate to Net Zero. Already we have made significant strides in this area, as we are on target to be the first net zero port operator in the UK and on the island of Ireland.
Crucially, our strategy will also lay the groundwork for our transformative 2050 port and estate masterplan, which will be publicly consulted upon later this year. Within this, we will detail our ambitious longer-term agenda, with a focus on positioning Belfast Harbour at the forefront of economic development and social value for both the city and the region – again this is something we believe will positively impact upon those working within manufacturing and a range of other sectors.
All of this builds upon the transformative investments of £374m we have already made over the past decade, into new cranes and ferry terminals, logistics warehousing, 5G technology, and the development of our estate.
This investment has created jobs, strengthened supply chains, and raised sustainability standards. It has boosted the port and attracted major foreign investors to the city. We have supported sectors from net zero tech to tourism and the creative industries, leaving a lasting legacy for the people of Belfast and beyond.
That’s why we are confident that the goals we are setting out to achieve through our strategy will not only help the city, the region and local business to survive the uncertainty in the months and years ahead, but allow it to thrive as well.
For details of Belfast Harbour’s 2025-29 Strategy, visit www.belfast-harbour.co.uk/strategy/
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