Call to ‘buy local’ during Covid-19 crisis

According to Graham Whitehurst MBE, Chair of Mid and East Antrim Council’s Manufacturing Task Force, the potential for Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector to aid in the fight against COVID-19 extends far beyond medical supplies.

He said: “I have been hugely encouraged by the efforts of local manufacturers to really step up in recent weeks to ensure that the supply chain is maintained, and demand is met. From manufacturers of medical supplies, cleaning and hygiene products, to hundreds of firms across the food supply chain, the sector has never been more important to Northern Ireland.

“Whilst the Health Minister’s call for local companies to assist with demand for ventilators is to be welcomed, we must remember of course that Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector can offer a vast array of crucial and very relevant products as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve.”

Mr Whitehurst pointed to the recently launched BuySupplyNI portal as “an invaluable source of information for buyers and suppliers alike” at this current time.

“Our Manufacturing Task Force recently launched a portal which aims to simplify the process of connecting buyers to potential suppliers within the manufacturing sector across Northern Ireland. ‘BuySupplyNI’ is a free-to-use portal which helps link large buyers in the manufacturing sector with local suppliers. This means we can help forge the links to connect businesses on a local level, particularly for the items that the government is deeming essential and in high demand at this time.”

To get involved with ‘BuySupplyNI’, register your details and make the connections to buy and supply across Northern Ireland today, visit www.buysupplyni.com to get started.