title: Northern Ireland Bureau
text: # Northern Ireland Bureau
  
  The Northern Ireland Bureau (NI Bureau) The Northern Ireland Bureau (NI Bureau) is a diplomatic mission of the Northern Ireland Executive. It works to promote economic prosperity, cultural development and international growth and engagement between Northern Ireland and foreign countries.
  
  There are two bureaus for China and for the United States and Canada.
  
  The Chinese bureau was set up on 2014 and is based in Beijing.
  
  The North American bureau is based in Washington DC, US and the senior staff are Civil Servants of the United Kingdom in Northern Ireland.
  
  ## About
  
  The former Director of the Bureau, Norman Houston, outlined the NI Bureau's objective: "Our primary goal is to promote Northern Ireland to the United States as a confident, capable, and outwardly looking region. Many organizations and individuals in the United States have supported developments in Northern Ireland over the years and there is a very positive response to Northern Ireland. It is important to recognize that this relationship has changed and continues to evolve.”
  
  Norman Houston retired in late 2019. As of 2023, the Director is Andrew Elliott.
  
  ## Responsibilities
  
  The responsibilities of the Bureau are to develop a positive profile of NI among policy makers, monitor policy developments in the US for up-to-date information and pursue areas of partnership for mutual benefits.
  
  