Belfast To Host Major International Business Conference

Belfast is to host a major international business conference in April 2013.

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

“India is one of the emerging global market opportunities – one of the few economies that is actually growing in the current climate,” commented Alderman Christopher Stalford, Chairman of Belfast City Counci's Development Committee, which will be jointly hosting the event alongside Invest NI.

“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. In 2010, for example, total trade in goods and services between the United Kingdom and India was in excess of £13 billion, with exports accounting for almost £6 billion of this trade. It is vital that Belfast does everything in its power to capitalize upon the opportunities which the Indian market affords us, and this event places us in the perfect position to do so.”

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.

(CD)