Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister meets with Logistics UK delegation

Thursday 01 May 2025

Logistics UK and a delegation from the business group’s Northern Ireland Freight Council met with Northern Ireland Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins MLA on Wednesday 30 April to highlight the value of the logistics sector to Northern Ireland and ensure the sector is prioritised by policymakers at the highest level.

The meeting was led by Logistics UK’s Head of Trade & Devolved Policy Nichola Mallon and Minister Kimmins met with Maire-Claire Reid, Managing Director of TST Group and Chair of Logistics UK's Northern Ireland Freight Council; Graham Patchett, Council Vice Chair and Depot Transport Manager Musgrave Retail Partners NI; Anthony McVeigh, Chief Executive Officer at S&W Wholesale and Clive Whylie, Head of Operations at S&W Wholesale.

During the meeting, which took place at S&W Wholesale in Newry, the delegation discussed the critical role logistics plays in the Northern Ireland economy and how, with the right infrastructure investment and support, it can drive growth.

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Mallon said, “We would like to thank Minister Kimmins and her team for making the time to meet with representatives from the Logistics UK Northern Ireland Freight Council. Logistics sits at the heart of all economic activity and in Northern Ireland alone there are currently more than 65,000 people employed in logistics roles, in over 6,000 logistics businesses, making, selling and moving the goods that the economy relies on every day.

“Without logistics, there is no trade. Logistics enabled Northern Ireland to export goods to the value of £19.56 billion in 2022. The contribution the sector already makes to the success of our economy cannot be understated but we also know significantly more opportunities could be forthcoming if our industry can realise its full potential, and that will be achieved by harnessing the power from prioritising the growth of logistics as a sector.”

Logistics UK is one of the UK’s biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, water and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please visit logistics.org.uk