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It has been a momentous month - both for Northern Ireland and for the entire United Kingdom. First came the Government鈥檚 trade deals with India and the USA which will open up new opportunities for Northern Ireland exporters.聽

Next, on Monday, the UK played host to the first-ever UK-EU summit at Lancaster House in London as we set out to build a new partnership with the European Union. In recent years, our relationship with the EU has - at times - been strained, but in an era in which global instability is rising, it makes sense to build stronger ties with our European friends and neighbours.

And then, on Thursday, we marked the anniversary of the referenda on the 1998 Good Friday Agreement held in Northern Ireland and Ireland. By voting 鈥榶es鈥�,聽the people chose聽and聽secured a chance for peace聽in Northern Ireland; a peace which has lasted in the almost three decades since and helped pave the way for Northern Ireland鈥檚 transformation. It was an agreement which remains to this day proof of the power of courageous political leadership,聽and people鈥檚聽willingness to compromise in hope of a better future.

The agreement with the European Union will help to create growth and lower household bills across the UK as a whole.聽

It is a particularly good deal for Northern Ireland.聽Our聽economy is already vibrant - think of our aerospace, life sciences, manufacturing, and film and television industries - and this agreement will further help Northern Ireland which experienced stronger growth than the United Kingdom as a whole last year.聽Peace has delivered real economic benefits.

Of particular significance will be the deal we reached on agrifood and plants, which will smooth flows of trade, ease the frictions for businesses and protect the UK internal market. Applying the same rules across the UK will give businesses greater certainty, and mean we can eliminate paperwork and mandatory identity and physical checks on goods moving under these arrangements.聽

All of this will save up to 拢1 million a month for those firms using the 鈥榬ed lane鈥� and we鈥檒l see a real difference in garden centres, with bans on so-called 鈥榟igh risk鈥� plants being eliminated - a commitment made in聽Safeguarding the Union聽- and plants being able to move within the UK without barriers.聽

This deal will also maintain Northern Ireland鈥檚 unique access to both the UK and EU markets and the advantages that the Windsor Framework offers to businesses and the economy. So, it鈥檚 no surprise that businesses have welcomed it. The Ulster Farmers Union called it 鈥榓 major step forward for Northern Ireland鈥檚 agri-food industry鈥�. The Horticultural Trades Association have said that their sector will save millions. And big name retailers such as Asda and M&S have praised the removal of frictions too. The message is clear from business - this is good news for Northern Ireland聽and good news for you.

The other outcomes of Monday鈥檚 summit are also good for Northern Ireland. Our new security and defence partnership with the EU will support our national security and the aerospace, defence and space industry which is already home to more than 9,000 jobs in Northern Ireland. Our closer law enforcement relationship with the EU will help prevent crime. Closer cooperation on decarbonisation and energy will lower prices and make our country greener and more resilient. And it鈥檒l become easier to travel to聽mainland聽Europe through e-Gates.聽

Northern Ireland鈥檚 prosperity is intrinsically linked聽to its strong relationship with the rest of the UK, and it can only benefit further from our new partnership with the EU. The steps we are taking will bring practical benefits, and Monday鈥檚 summit makes me even more confident that Northern Ireland鈥檚 economy will continue to flourish as a thriving and growing part of the UK.

This article also featured in the Belfast Telegraph.