IT Jobs Boost Welcomed To Belfast

There has been a warm welcome for news of extra IT jobs being created in Belfast, with two separate announcements being made.

The Alliance South Belfast MLA Anna Lo has hailed the creation of 100 jobs following the takeover of Belfast based firm Lagan Technologies by US firm Kana for £29.4m as good news.

Anna Lo MLA said: "These jobs that are being created are highly skilled and will be a big boost to the local economy.

"This takeover is further evidence that global companies view Northern Ireland as a good place to do business. The Executive and Invest NI should be doing all they can to ensure that our economy is as attractive as possible to foreign investment.

"This is the latest in a number of job announcements in Belfast by these high value technology firms and I hope that more jobs will be created as Belfast becomes a world leader in this sector."

Belfast-based software company, Lagan Technologies was acquired by the US firm Kana for an undisclosed sum.

The firm specialises in software to improve communications between local authorities and the general public, whether online or on the phone.

It has won contracts with councils throughout the UK and city and state authorities in America and Australasia.

Last week, it signed its biggest ever contract, worth around Aus$5m, with the city of Brisbane.

The merger with Kana is expected to result in the creation of 100 jobs over the next three years at Lagan's Belfast office.

Chief Executive Des Speed said that it was good news for Lagan's existing customers.

He told the BBC: "Kana is similar to ourselves except that most of their business is in the private sector, whereas we tend to concentrate in government and the public sector. So in many ways we complement each other."

"It provides more strength in depth for our customers in product and professional services," he said.

Expansion

Meanwhile, in a separate development, Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive of Invest Northern Ireland, said that US-based BroadSoft, Inc., is also to expand its Belfast facility with support from Invest NI.

The leading global provider of Internet Protocol (IP) based communications services to the telecommunications industry, BroadSoft International, a wholly owned subsidiary of BroadSoft Inc., has been operating in Belfast since 2006 and currently employs 23 people.

With the support provided by Invest NI, BroadSoft International plans to add up to an additional 12 high calibre telecommunications jobs.

Mr Hamilton made the investment announcement ahead of the US-NI Economic Conference which is due to take place in Washington DC on 19 October.

The conference, which will be hosted by Hilary Clinton, will bring together leading US executives considering investing in Northern Ireland, and US companies that are already operating in the region.

Invest NI has offered £120,000 of support to BroadSoft International.

(BMcC/KMcA)