America's special economic envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy was impressed by the "ingenuity, creativity, work ethic and potential" in Derry, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has said.
The Foyle MP was speaking after he took Mr Kennedy on a tour of the city.
Mr Kennedy, a member of one of America's most famous political families and grandson of former US Attorney General Robert F Kennedy, was shown around a number of local businesses and Ebrington Square - once home to the American navy during the Second World War.
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Following their tour, Mr Eastwood said: "It was wonderful to welcome Joe Kennedy to Derry today, his first visit to the city on his maiden trip to Northern Ireland after being appointed the US Special Envoy.
"I was delighted to show him around some of our city’s most successful local businesses and to display the ingenuity, creativity, work ethic and potential that exists within Derry. He received a warm welcome that I’m sure will stay with him for some time.
"As we walked the streets of our city together I could tell that he was really impressed with what he saw. Derry and its people have so much to offer, that’s the message I’ve been spreading far and wide and I was glad to have the first-hand opportunity to show Mr Kennedy exactly what I was talking about."
He continued: "In the number of meetings I have had with Mr Kennedy since his appointment I have emphasised the need for significant investment in the wider North West area if we are ever to seize the opportunity that exists here.
"For far too long investment has been concentrated in small pockets of the North and the Windsor Framework and dual market access gives us the chance to finally put that right."
The SDLP leader added: "We also discussed many of the points raised by President Biden and Mr Kennedy on their trip to Ireland this week.
"I stressed too the need for a properly resourced and expanded university at Magee if we are ever to stop our best and brightest from leaving this area and taking their skills and contributions with them.
"Following his visit I’m sure that Mr Kennedy has a greater understanding of the issues we are facing in this part of our island and I look forward to working closely with him in the near future to address them."
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