The provision of Economic Development and Tourism Services within the Council comes under the remit of the ‘Enterprise Development Unit’ which is one of the five sections of the District Development Department.

Economic Development under Local Government Legislation is a relatively new function and since its establishment in the early 1990s the local promotion of economic development via the Council’s EDU unit has proved to be a tremendous success. In 2001, following the completion of previous strategies, the Council began the implementation of an Economic Action Plan based on a comprehensive review of Newry and Mourne's social and economic position, the needs of the area, the people and the Council's access to resources. The Economic Action Plan 2001-2007 is being funded under the Northern Ireland Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity, Measure 1.4, which matches a Council contribution with funding assistance through the European Regional Development Fund.