Cross-Border Trade & Economic Conference 2026

Annmarie O’Kane, the CCBC’s Information Manager, will join the “Skills & People: A Cross-Border Partnership Approach” panel at Newry & Dundalk Chambers’ Cross-Border Trade & Economic Conference.

The event is taking place on Tuesday 3 March from 8am in Carrickdale Hotel & Spa in Co Louth.

Annmarie will join panellists Dr Fiona Lawless (Theme Lead, Southeast Cross-Border Alliance), Tracy Rice (Head of Business Engagement, Southern Regional College), Martin Casey (Cross-Border Advisor, Cross-Border Solutions), Dr Diarmuid O’Callaghan (President, Dundalk Institute of Technology) and Gerard Smith (Director, Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence).

Dr Caoimhe Archibald (Economy Minister) and Niamh Smyth (Minister of State for Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment) will outline their priorities for the region.

John Fahey (Senior Economist at Allied Irish Bank) will present on “Economic Outlook amid on-going Geopolitical Uncertainty”, Dr Diarmuid O’Callaghan will speak on “Queen’s University Belfast and Dundalk Institute of Technology Strategic Partnership: A Game Changer for the Region” and Professor Seamus McGuinness (Research Professor, Economic and Social Research Institute) will examine “The Role of Investment and Cooperation in Closing the Cross-Border Productivity Gap”.

The conference is sponsored by InterTradeIreland, Local Enterprise Office Louth, Dundalk Chamber Skillnet, M1 Corridor, Louth County Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Registration is still open and the programme is available online.