NI 'benefits' from college and industry links

Cross-party approach to attract investment

Northern Ireland's enterprise minister believes the province is benefiting from strong links between engineering and telecommunications firms and the universities.

Sir Reg Empey who is in Toronto on the third leg of a North American trade mission, said Canadian firms had made an "immense contribution" to both sectors in Northern Ireland.

The minister visited the headquarters of Nortel in Brampton, Ontario, with members of the assembly's enterprise, trade and investment committee.

He praised research links developed by the company and by Bombardier Aerospace with universities in the province.

"A key research project, Jigsaw, involving Nortel and the Industrial Research and Technology Unit has resulted in the establishment of a new centre for communications at the University of Ulster," he said.

"A technological first in Europe, the centre connects the engineering and software departments at Queen's University and the University of Ulster with Nortel.

"It offers immense potential for further collaborative research and is an excellent example of the sort of effective industry/university linkages we are trying to promote in Northern Ireland."

Sir Reg Empey and Pat Doherty: Common investment interest

The Northern Ireland Assembly delegation includes Sinn Fein vice president Pat Doherty, Alliance leader Sean Neeson, Dr Alisdair McDonnell of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and David McClarty of the Ulster Unionists.

They were given a tour of the Nortel site after meeting senior executives in the company.

They also attended a lunch in Toronto for potential Canadian investors organised by an association of businessmen, known as the Apostles of Ireland.

The minister paid tribute to other Canadian companies - MDS Harris, C Mac and the Pivotal Corporation - who had located plants in Northern Ireland.

Sir Reg also stressed the significance of business alliances forged between Canada and towns outside Belfast, citing LEDU's Into the West consortium's work in attracting investment into counties Fermanagh and Tyrone.

"It employs two agents to further the interests of small business and identify small business strategic alliance leads in eastern Canada and has developed some valuable contacts with Toronto," the minister said.

In particular, he highlighted the link developed between Loughside Engineering in Omagh and THOR Industries in Ontario.

"This has resulted in a joint venture agreement whereby Loughside manufactures one of THOR's new products for the European market - 30 new jobs in Omagh have resulted."

The minister and the delegation are travelling to Denver, Colorado, for the final leg of their tour.