Two coastal regions. One shared ambition. A new economic corridor for the island.

2 April 2026 marked a significant milestone for both business communities and regional collaboration across the island.

At the Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Chamber of Commerce and Bangor Chamber of Commerce formally launched a new Shared Island Economic Partnership, underpinned by a Strategic Memorandum of Understanding for the period 2026–2030.

This is more than a formal agreement – it is a clear statement of intent.

It reflects a shared ambition to strengthen economic ties, unlock new opportunities for businesses, and build a more connected, resilient and sustainable regional economy.

A Shared Vision: The Economic Corridor

At the heart of this partnership is the development of a Shared Island Economic Corridor, linking Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Bangor as complementary coastal and economic hubs.

This creates a powerful platform for collaboration across key growth areas including:

The blue economy
Tourism and destination development
Sustainable enterprise and innovation

From Strategy to Action

What makes this partnership particularly strong is its focus on delivery.

Over the coming years, collaboration will be driven through:

Cross-border trade missions and business engagement
Innovation and entrepreneurship programmes
Skills development and youth-focused initiatives
Sustainable development and place-making
Cultural and community exchange

Voices from the Partnership:

Speakers celebrated the launch of this first-of-it-kind innovative, strategic, economic corridor on the island.

Frank Shivers , President, Bangor Chamber of Commerce said:

“This partnership represents a significant opportunity to strengthen economic ties across the island. By working closely with colleagues in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, we are creating new pathways for collaboration, innovation, and growth that will directly benefit our business communities.”

Colin Brown , President, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Chamber of Commerce said:

“This agreement reflects the ambition of our Chamber to play a leading role in shaping cross-border economic collaboration. It creates a strong foundation for long-term growth, particularly in areas such as the blue economy and sustainable development.”

Colette O’Sullivan, CEO, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Chamber of Commerce said:

“This is a landmark moment for our Chamber and our members. Through this partnership, we are opening up real opportunities for businesses to connect, expand, and collaborate across borders, while contributing to a more resilient and sustainable regional economy.”

Strong Public Sector Support

The MoU between the Chambers, has strong Public Sector support

Quote from an Cathaoirleach Jim Gildea, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council:

“This initiative reflects the spirit of cooperation that underpins the Shared Island approach. It is about building relationships and creating opportunities for communities across the island.”

An Cathaoirleachs Office was represented by Lorraine Hall

Frank Curran , Chief Executive, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said:

“This kind of collaboration highlights the value of strong connections between business communities across the island. There is significant potential to align enterprise development with wider regional and sustainability objectives.”

John O’ Toole , Head of Economic Development, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said:

“The concept of an economic corridor linking coastal regions is a compelling one. It presents opportunities to support innovation, enterprise, and sustainable growth in a very practical way.”

Cormac Devlin TD , Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement said:

“This is exactly the kind of practical, forward-looking collaboration that strengthens relationships across the island. Initiatives like this support both economic development and deeper connections in the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement.”

Looking Ahead

While this partnership begins between two Chambers, its ambition extends much further.

There is strong potential to evolve into a broader, multi-stakeholder collaboration – working alongside local authorities and public sector partners to scale impact and delivery.

Aligned with the Government’s Shared Island Initiative, this is a partnership with real momentum.

This is Just the Beginning

This partnership is grounded in collaboration, but driven by ambition.

We now move from agreement to action – building connections, delivering initiatives, and ensuring that this translates into meaningful impact for businesses and communities across both regions.

The opportunity is significant – and so too is our commitment to making it happen.

We were delighted to be joined also by Alison Blayney B.E.M., Glyn Roberts, Nicola Dorrian, Audrey Stenson Ph.D. IADT Dún Laoghaire , Pat Neill Dundrum Town Centre, Tim Ryan, Laura Jackson and Councillors Justin Moylan, Thomas Joseph and Tom Kivlehan