OVERSEAS guests have attended a gala dinner in Hillsborough Castle on Thursday night.

Pictured at the Gala Dinner at Hillsborough Castle this evening are, from left to right:
Japanese Minister Naoki Ito, Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive of Invest NI; US Consul General, Gregory Burton; Secretary of State Theresa Villiers; First Minister Peter Robinson; deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness; Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and Canadian High Commissioner, Gordon Campbell.
PICTURES: Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

The black tie dinner is being hosted by Secretary of State Theresa Villiers ahead of tomorrow’s investment conference at Titanic Belfast.

Around 120 delegates from the USA, Canada and China have arrived in Northern Ireland with the prospect of bringing jobs to boost the economy.

The investment conference is being hosted by First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy first minister Martin McGuinness.

On Thursday, the conference was given a boost when US global giant announced that it was creating 260 jobs in a £21.7 million investment in Co Tyrone.

Finance Minister Simon Hamilton said the investment conference was an opportunity for Northern Ireland to “showcasee” its talents.

Prime Minister David Cameron is to make a speech to delegates at Titanic Belfast.

He will also be visiting Bombardier Shorts in east Belfast at which an announcement is expected to be made about a multi-million pound research development being unveiled.

From left to right US Consul General, Gregory Burton; Peter Robinson; Japanese Minister Naoki Ito, Martin McGuinness and Canadian High Commissioner, Gordon Campbell.

From left to right: Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive of Invest NI; Peter Robinson; Young Entrepreneur Orlagh McGahan; Martin McGuinness; Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers and Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster.