Newry Profile
Newry and Mourne with a population of 89,901 lies in the South-East of Northern Ireland bordering the Irish Republic and containing the Southern parts of Counties Armagh and Down. The local administrative centre and largest town, Newry with a population of 21,801 has a long distinguished commercial history and is strategically located approximately 62km south of Belfast and 96km north of Dublin and benefits from substantial cross-border trade.

Newry's location on the main transport axis between Belfast and Dublin means that almost three million of the Island's population is less than one hours drive away.

For decades, Newry has pioneered Northern Ireland's trade and commercial relationship with the Irish Republic. The possibilities presented by a new mutually beneficial relationship between North and South following the 1998 Good Friday agreement are already manifest in the most comprehensive locally driven programme of Cross Border Trade development activity in Ireland.

It is believed that Newry has demonstrated itself to be the economic pivot between the North and South of Ireland and that it is the most obvious, most economic, efficient and effective location to facilitate economic collaboration between the North and South of Ireland.

Population / Demographics
In 2001 the estimated population of Newry & Mourne District Council area was 89,901, or 5.31% of the total NI population. This represents an increase of 7.5% from the 1991 figure of 83,600.

Newry & Mourne age profile is significantly younger than the Northern Ireland average. The total projected population for Newry & Mourne in 2013 is 97,000.

Business Environment
There are 3,235 businesses in Newry & Mourne. Micro businesses, those with less than 10 employees, make up the core of businesses in the Newry & Mourne District - 91% of the total number of businesses.

The economic growth, which has characterised Newry since the mid 1990's shows no signs of slowing and this growth has been most dramatic in the retail / hospitality sectors with over £155m invested in retail since 1997. The Buttercrane Shopping Centre built in 1988 and refurbished in 1998 and 2002 provides 1,300 jobs, its tenants includes Marks & Spencer, Dunnes Stores and Primark. The Quays Shopping Centre and Leisure Centre opened in 1999 created 1,000 jobs and attracted household names in the UK and Ireland such as Debenhams, Sainsburys, Next, Newry Omniplex.

Damolly Retail Park was opened in 1999 and created 600 jobs with employers such as B&Q, MFI, Currys, and McDonalds.

Manufacturing Profile
Newry currently has a broad base of manufacturing and tradeable services companies operating in the Newry area. These range from electrical giants, Glen Dimplex, SCA Packaging Limited, Anglo Beef Processors Limited, First Derivatives Ltd, FM Environmental, Norbrook Laboratories LTD and another local company Eurostock Meat Marketing Ltd have won Queen's Export Awards in recent years.

Education
Newry & Mourne educates its young people to a very high standard with one of the highest proportions of people educated to third level standard in Europe. The area has a notable concentration of educational establishments and four local schools have featured prominently in the Times' list of top schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In addition, the Newry & Kilkeel institute of Further & Higher Education offers a range of HND and Degree courses to it's 13,000 students.

Tourism / Hospitality Sector
The Canal Court Hotel, located in the centre of Newry opened in 1998 has transformed the tourism infrastructure of the Newry area ever since.

In addition to the Canal Court Hotel, a number of excellent bars, restaurants and cafes have recently opened including The Bank Bar and Soho Place as well as Bamboo Chinese Restaurant and Pizza Place. Other Newry hotels include Francis Court and the Mourne Country Hotel.

The district has 362 Hotel beds representing 3.2% of the NI total. 129 of these are in three star accommodation. There are 79 Guest House Beds and 145 B&B beds representing 4.5% and 3.2% of the NI totals respectively. There are also 133 Youth Hostel bedspaces in the District representing 5.6% of the total.

Euro Friendly Zone
Newry is a Euro friendly zone and when the Euro was introduced in January 2002, in excess of 95% of all retailers in the Newry area were offering dual currency facilities.

The importance of being Euro friendly from a manufacturing perspective is highlighted by the fact that 75% of exports from the Newry and Mourne District Council area go to the Eurozone region. It is estimated that upwards of 30% of weekly trade in Newry originates from the Eurozone region.