Foster to lead trade delegation to India

India, 15 September 2009: Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster is to lead Invest Northern Ireland’s trade and investment mission to India at the end of September.
The Minister’s participation was announced during a visit to Polaris Software Labs Ltd, one of India’s leading software companies and one of four existing Indian inward investors in Northern Ireland.

The Minister said: “Since originally establishing it’s Northern Ireland location at the Science Park in 2006, Polaris, a financial technology corporation, has steadily grown, developing a highly skilled workforce of financial technology staff. It also continues to make a valuable economic and cultural contribution to Northern Ireland.”

Arlene Foster thanked the CEO of Polaris EMEA for the company’s investment in Northern Ireland and said: “I welcome this opportunity to meet with Bikash Mathur, CEO of Polaris EMEA and his locally based management team. I have thanked them for their ongoing commitment to the local economy and given my assurance that both Invest NI, and my department, will provide whatever support is appropriate to ensure that their Northern Ireland operations can grow and prosper.

“During the Trade Mission to India, Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive, Invest NI will also visit the corporate headquarters of Polaris in Chennai to reinforce this message. The planned relocation of Polaris to the new Concourse building in October is a welcome indication of the company’s ambition for, and commitment to, further growth.

The Minister continued: “During my visit to India, I intend to meet with existing, and potential, Indian investors. I will highlight the attractions of Northern Ireland as a region, which meets the needs of inward investors, seeking talented resources and a cost effective location, particularly in the software and business process outsourcing sectors.

“India is a market which offers a breadth of opportunities for innovative and export focused businesses, with an emphasis on the highest standards of customer service. I encourage the 25 local participants on the mission, ranging from construction to professional services, to explore and exploit every export opportunity.”
The Trade Mission will take place from 19 – 26 September, visiting Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. The Minister will be accompanied by Alastair Hamilton, Chief Executive, Invest Northern Ireland, and by Lord Diljit Rana, Honorary Consul for India in Northern Ireland. Arlene Foster will visit Delhi for trade and investment meetings and then travel to Mumbai to join the trade delegates, concluding her six day visit in Bangalore.

About Invest Northern Ireland

Invest Northern Ireland is the business development agency for this region of the United Kingdom. It is responsible for securing new investment from overseas in the internationally traded services and niche manufacturing sectors. Focusing in particular on the financial services and ICT sectors, Invest NI works in partnership with public and private sector organisations to establish Northern Ireland as a high performance, high skilled and high value location for international business. Invest NI also works with Northern Ireland companies to promote international trade, increase competitiveness, entrepreneurship and harness innovation, helping to facilitate the creation of more and better quality business start-ups. Invest NI is headquartered in Belfast and delivers its services through a network of local and international offices including one in Mumbai, established in September 2007. Northern Ireland has secured investments from four major Indian IT & BPO companies, which between them have invested nearly USD 160 million and employ nearly 3,000 people:

• HCL Technologies Ltd

• Polaris Software Labs

• Firstsource Solutions

• Tech Mahindra

For more information please contact:

LEWIS Public Relations
Arunava Khan

Mobile: +91 9820535436

E-mail: arunavak {at} lewispr(.)com
Dipa Joisher

Mobile: +91 9892661041

E-mail: dipaj {at} lewispr(.)com