An American financier and previous critic of job discrimination in Northern Ireland has announced he is committing almost £4m towards business development there.
At a news conference in Belfast, Alan Hevesi, controller of the £66bn New York State retirement fund, announced the investment of £3.75m (€5.53m) in a new £22.5 million venture capital fund sponsored by Invest Northern Ireland.
It is Mr Hevesi's first investment in Northern Ireland, something he has championed but held back from actually doing for much of the last decade.
He said that progress was being made and the disparity between Catholic and Protestant employment opportunities was closing.
Announcing his investment, he said Northern Ireland represented tremendous opportunities for growth and prosperity, regardless of religious, political or any other affiliation.
