No projects financially backed by Invest NI supported the production of arms or components for supply to Israel, a review has concluded.
The internal review was ordered amid concerns companies were involved in supply chains putting together arms and components for use by the Israeli military, including the F-35 fighter jet.
“The detailed review covered 93 projects, spanning 20 Invest NI programmes,” the authors concluded.
“The review has confirmed that no project supported by Invest NI was for the purpose of supporting the manufacture of arms or their components, for supply to Israel.”
F-35 jets are used by the Royal Air Force and the US Air Force (Jacob King/PA)
The report continued: “Following a review of its internal controls, Invest NI concluded that no additional measures or amendments are required.
“The current systems are considered sufficiently robust to screen our future investments in projects that would provide financial assistance for the purpose of manufacturing of arms or their components to be supplied to Israel.”
However, the report concedes the “global aerospace and defence supply chains are highly sophisticated multi-tiered ecosystems that support the development and production of highly complex aerospace and defence products”.
These supply chains span continents and involve thousands of companies, each contributing specialized components, technologies, and services that ultimately feed into the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) like Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and BAE Systems.”
Companies involved in the north’s aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors had a combined turnover of £2.2 billion in 2024. Most are advanced manufacturing supply chain companies, the review noted.
Economy minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald (MATT MACKEY
)
Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald said: “The review is categorical – Invest NI does not support the manufacture of arms or their components for Israel. I welcome this finding”.
The minister said she has instructed officials to prepare additional measures “to eliminate any risk of public funds being used to support the manufacture of arms or components that are used for genocide”.
These include companies seeking Invest NI or other support confirming “they are not manufacturing arms or components for countries committing genocide”.
They will also “not engage in the British Government’s trade talks with Israel while it continues to illegally occupy and impose apartheid on Palestine”.
Cassidy Ferrari, who is taking a judicial review linked to state funding for companies alleged to be involved in the arms supply chain, said it was “not good enough for the government to hide behind the excuses of a complex supply chain” when components end up in F-35 jets”.
Solicitor Michael Madden, who represents the Cairde Palestine board member, added: “Today’s report found that it is not possible for Invest NI or its client companies to fully track or determine the final destination of exported goods once they enter complex supply chains.”