Minister leads major NI business delegation to India

Enterprise Minister Barry Gardiner is to lead an 18-strong delegation to India to explore business and academic exchanges for Northern Ireland.

The visit, from 29 October to 6 November, will see the Minister brief political, business and university leaders in the key Indian business centres of New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai about Northern Ireland during the visit, which is being organised by Invest NI.

Lord Rana, the Honorary Consul for India in Northern Ireland, will be taking part in the mission in his role as President of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI).

The Northern Ireland delegation comprises executives from 10 local companies and six senior academic and administrative staff from Queen’s University, Belfast, and the University of Ulster led by Professor Kenneth Brown and Vice Chancellor Gerry McKenna respectively.

Mr Gardiner said: “This mission will strengthen the already significant business and academic links with India, a market of over one billion people that is fast becoming one of the most important global growth engines. Last year, for instance, Indian customers bought goods from Northern Ireland suppliers worth almost £25 million.

“We are also seeing an increasing number of our Information Technology companies developing alliances in India that will increase their ability to compete in global markets and thereby help in creating wealth and employment in Northern Ireland.”

Mr Gardiner will be the keynote speaker at events organised by the influential Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi and the Confederation of Indian Industry in Mumbai. These events will focus on furthering the mutual commercial and academic links between India and Northern Ireland.

He will also be meeting ministers from the national and state governments, including those representing departments such as Commerce and Industry and Education.

The Northern Ireland delegation comprises: 8Over8, Londonderry-based software company; Delap and Waller, Londonderry, a mechanical and electrical and engineering services business; FG Wilson, Larne, a manufacturer of electricity generating sets; Finisco, a software developer from Belfast; GT Exhausts, Enniskillen, a manufacturer of automotive exhausts; Industrial Protection Systems, Newtownabbey, a specialist in materials handling; Mivan, Antrim, fast-track construction; Randox Laboratories, Crumlin, diagnostic services; TR Shipping, Belfast, logistics; Viper International, Coalisland, screening and quarrying machinery.

(MB/GMCG)