The Northern Ireland Office reported on 7 October 2026 that Minister for Northern Ireland Sarah Owen visited the region for engagements focused on economic growth, innovation and exports. According to that release, she welcomed the official opening of Queen's University Belfast's Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC).

The minister also attended the UK Export Finance Northern Ireland Business Forum and visited Belfast clean technology company Catagen, where the release said she met businesses working to support growth, investment and exports. Owen said Northern Ireland offers world-leading innovation in advanced manufacturing and clean technology, with export potential across a number of sectors, and that the visits showed businesses, universities and government working together to support growth. These are the statements as reported on that date.