India Is Business Target For NI

Smaller manufacturing companies in Northern Ireland are being helped to win new business in India.

Omagh consultancy firm Outsource Ireland is helping them get new contracts or maintain existing customers by linking up with lower cost suppliers in India.

Whilst participating on an Invest Northern Ireland trade mission earlier in the year, the consultancy which specialises in business improvement, lean manufacturing and supply chain management techniques, developed contacts for local companies in India.

In addition, Outsource Ireland has pinpointed new business for Northern Ireland manufacturers in key Indian centres such as Mumbai and Kolkata.

Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI's Trade Director, said: "India is now one of the most popular markets with local companies because of the scale of business opportunities there. It is both a huge marketplace for products and a source of supplies that can often be sourced at very competitive costs.

"Our missions to India and other markets are open to all Northern Ireland companies in manufacturing and tradable services. A number of companies, both large and small, are now using partnerships that they've forged in India from participation in our trade missions there to strengthen their ability to compete in European and American markets.

"We also hope that an engagement with India will lead them to explore the huge opportunities that exist in this marketplace for a broad range of products and services," added Dr Kell.

Jonathan Brown, Outsource Ireland's Managing Director, said: "Since the Invest NI trade mission in April, I am now working with around 30 small manufacturers in Northern Ireland which are keen to source lower cost suppliers or to become part of the supply chain of bigger businesses there.

"It makes sound business sense for our SMEs to look towards India because many of their bigger competitors in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland are already doing so. India can become part of a blended supply chain that they use to develop their business.

"It's my conviction and experience that sourcing lower cost supplies and components from India actually safeguards employment in Northern Ireland," he continued.

"As well as helping local companies to become suppliers to bigger Indian manufacturers, I’ve helped a business here to develop a new product and have it prototyped in India at a very competitive cost.

"Our whole focus is working with local companies especially SMEs in manufacturing and light engineering on initiatives that will help them to grow their business successfully and, above all, profitably," he concluded.

(BMcC/GK)