US Jobs Boost For Belfast

A talented workforce and a very low rate of staff losses has convinced a US software company to create 60 jobs in a new research and development centre in Belfast.

The £4.4m investment is being made by Boston-based NaviNet, a specialist in computer systems for healthcare firms.

Chief Executive Brad Waugh said Northern Ireland offered a rich supply of talent yet the cost of doing business was relatively cheap.

"We looked at India, China, the Philippines and when we added up the numbers - plus with Invest Northern Ireland being involved - this was the least expensive place," he said.

"We were very impressed with the talent pool here."

He also said this morning that it costs a lot of money to train staff to the required skill level and that while an Indian office set-up would lose around half its qualified staff due to people leaving, that figure dropped to just 2% in the NI equivalent.

The company supplies a real-time communications network which securely links more than 800,000 providers and patients, industry partners and health insurers.

NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said NaviNet's decision to choose Northern Ireland was "a mark of its confidence in this region's competitiveness and the availability of talented ICT professionals".

The SDLP Enterprise Spokesperson Dr Alasdair McDonnell has welcomed the creation of 60 new hi-tech jobs through investment in a research and development centre in Belfast by American firm NaviNet.

"This is welcome news and a boost to the city's economy during difficult times. NaviNet has decided to invest because of the rich talent pool of staff here and that is a growing testament to the professional and committed approach adopted by people here continuing to maintain a high degree of work during recessionary times.

"I hope this investment acts as a catalyst for the future investment of other international firms and wish the company and its new employees all the best in the future," he said.

(BMcC)