John Browne T.D., Irish Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources has announced that he proposes to appoint Kevin Bonnar, the former Secretary General of the Department of Enterprise and Employment, to chair a Steering Group of key officials of State Agencies to develop a marketing strategy for Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre.
He hopes that this major marketing initiative will help revitalise and re-position the Port as a hub of economic development in the region. The Port underpins a wide variety of economic activity in South West Donegal and the focus of the marketing initiative will be on pursuing new business opportunities including attracting more shipping activity to the Port.
Killybegs is Ireland's premier fishing port accounting for over one third of all the fish landings in the country. While fishing will remain the mainstay of the harbour, the development of the new €50 million sheltered, deepwater facility, which can accommodate the largest ships using Irish waters, has opened up opportunities to promote other types of business. It is important that this state-of-the-art facility in Killybegs is used to the optimum and that advantage is taken of the up-to-date technology and facilities that currently exist in the port.
The terms of reference for the Steering Group are to:
* Build on previous marketing initiatives for the harbour
* Consult with the various stakeholders in the harbour
* Examine the potential to attract new business to the harbour
* Draw up a marketing plan to target and attract new business
* Oversee the establishment of structures to drive the initiative forward
