Leader sees ‘huge opportunities’ in new partnership with 'gateway to EU'

Douglas City Council’s leader believes the island could unlock new investment, tourism and economic opportunities by strengthening its links with Dublin and other cities around the Irish Sea.

Devon Watson said the new partnership between Douglas and the Irish capital should be more than a formal agreement, arguing that closer cooperation could help the island grow its economy and learn from places with greater resources.

His comments came after the two cities signed a Friendship and Cooperation Agreement at Douglas City Hall on Wednesday, October 21, during a visit by Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Daryl Barron, and an eight-member delegation.

Mr Watson described the signing as one of the biggest pieces of international diplomacy undertaken by the council, adding that he hoped it would have ‘really significant impacts on the island as a whole’.

He said the sea should be viewed as a connection rather than a barrier between the two cities.

‘We’re the capital city of two different Celtic nations, two countries, two cities, but one shared sea, and that water between us is also a connection between us,’ he said.

‘The sea needs to be thought of as a highway.’

Mr Watson said building up the maritime economy between the Isle of Man and Dublin, potentially alongside other neighbouring cities in the future, was ‘really, really deeply important’.

He also rejected the idea that agreements of this kind amounted to little more than a formal signing without tangible benefits for residents.

Dublin, he said, had a city budget of €1.5bn, offering opportunities for Douglas to learn from its systems and experience.

He said there was also potential to develop tourism, language and cultural links, while conversations with business representatives had already indicated interest in using the agreement to encourage investment between the two places.

‘Dublin, for us, is the gateway to the EU,’ he said.

‘So, if we’re going to grow the economy, we have to grow it through our neighbours, and we have to grow it through building better connectivity between the Isle of Man and the rest of the UK.’

Mr Watson said the island was surrounded by major cities, including Dublin, Belfast, Glasgow, Manchester and Liverpool, but had not always made the most of the economic connections available to it.

He said Douglas City Council wanted to work with those cities, institutions and communities to develop stronger business relationships and tourism links.

‘A lot of that has to come from a place of ambition,’ he added.

The agreement identifies areas for cooperation including culture and language, tourism, education, environmental protection and opportunities for young people. However, it does not commit either city to specific projects, funding or new transport services.