Belfast To Host Major Trade Conference

Belfast is to host a major international business conference aimed at improving trade with India.

The annual Global India Business Forum brings together more than 350 chief executives from major Indian companies to meet with their European counterparts and examine the potential for trade development and investment between the two regions.

Belfast City Council's Development Committee will join Invest NI to host the event here next April.

The committee's chairman, Alderman Christopher Stalford, said: "India is one of the emerging global market opportunities – one of the few economies that is actually growing in the current climate. Belfast already has strong links with India, through local companies doing business there and Indian companies also setting up operations here, and the potential for further development is huge."

Alderman Stalford said more than £13m was spent on trade between India and the UK in 2010 , and it was "vital" that Belfast use those opportunities.

The most recent Global India Business Forum was held in Antwerp just last week, and previous events have been held in Munich, Madrid and Naples.

Meanwhile, Belfast also is bidding to host the prestigious Indie Gaming Developers' competition this September. This annual event showcases some of the most innovative and interesting new game ideas from unknown talent around the world, and, if Belfast's bid is successful, will bring more than 250 delegates to the city over its three days. It also will provide an opportunity for local companies to network and pitch to key figures in the international gaming industry.

(NE/GK)