The Department of Economic Development is recruiting six people to help drive economic growth in specific areas.

DED Minister John Shimmin has secured additional funding of ?2million.

He said: 'Through the important work that was done to help develop the Vision2020 strategy we have identified the key priorities and opportunities we feel will produce the biggest benefits for the taxpayer. Each of these opportunities has been identified through working with the private sector and are logical extensions to existing sector strategies, which reduces the risks substantially.

'Also, by pursuing several initiatives rather than one large one, we further reduce the risk of failure. As a result, I am confident that for every additional ?1 we spend, we will generate at least ?3 for the taxpayer, representing good value for money. This shows we can support all of Government’s priorities to grow the economy, protect the vulnerable and balance the budget.’

He said the six 'skilled individuals' would be focusing on five key areas. These are to attract more high net worth individuals to the island, to build business links with the 'largely untapped' market in the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, develop a marketing strategy building on the 'where you can' brand, develop a country strategy to win business from China and the Middle East, Russia, India and parts of Africa, and to increase the number of visitors to the island to help sustain the transport links and leisure activities that a population of 85,000 cannot support.

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