Enterprise Ireland is making a huge bet on an industry fraught with risk and high failure rates but there is little doubt the government believes the rewards could be significant if the start-up ecosystem can become a vibrant, self-sustaining sector and, in the process, produce successful entrepreneurs that go on to start and finance more companies.
Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said she had been informed of the job losses earlier this week.
The ministers will be joined by the Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and the Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill following their respective visits to Shanghai and Beijing for business and agricultural meetings.
Meanwhile official figures from the Department of Enterprise suggest that the Northern Ireland economy is still flat.
He was addressing the enterprise committee on the Energising Northern Ireland report.
Northern Ireland Office ministers established enterprise zones in Belfast and Londonderry.
BBC: Business community's mixed feelings on enterprise zones
In response, Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said Northern Ireland has a high standard of broadband connectivity and that Project Kelvin was designed to benefit areas of the north west by providing speedier transatlantic access broadband information.
All parties supported the joint motion from the Enterprise and Finance Committees on the Northern Ireland Economic Reform Group Report (ERG) on Corporation Tax.
Ms Lo said Northern Ireland could learn from Scotland where renewable energy enterprise zones are being set up.
Mr Larkin explained to the enterprise committee that Mutual Energy was owned by electricity consumers in Northern Ireland, was operated in their interests, and had no shareholders.
BBC: Moyle electricity interconnector repairs could cost ?60m
"I hope the Chancellor isn't treating the enterprise zone as an alternative to a reduction in Corporation Tax for Northern Ireland, " he said.
BBC: Business community's mixed feelings on enterprise zones
"There has been much more rapid progress in England, Scotland and Wales on enterprise zones and I think some of these ideas could apply to Northern Ireland, " said Mr Paterson.
BBC: Business community's mixed feelings on enterprise zones
The Omagh Enterprise Centre is a hub for Project Kelvin, a telecommunications cable linking Northern Ireland to the USA and Europe.
Chris Lyttle of the Alliance Party said he believed that the programme would "provide a platform for the talent, enterprise and endeavour of our people to drive social and economic change in Northern Ireland".
The money spent by overseas tourists in Northern Ireland increased by 20% last year, according to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
Northern Ireland Electricity's (NIE) Chief operating officer, Billy Graham, told the Enterprise Committee that he struggled to see the 40% target of alternative energy being achieved by 2020, on 18 November 2010.
The finance and enterprise committees brought a joint motion on supporting in principle the devolution of corporation tax powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly, on 28 June 2011.
The enterprise zone, a child of the Thatcher era, has been reborn everywhere in the UK, except Northern Ireland.
BBC: Business community's mixed feelings on enterprise zones
应用推荐