03 March 2010

Belfast Company 'Lights Up' Kuwait

A Belfast-based specialist in architectural lighting has won its first export business, assisted by an Invest Northern Ireland trade mission.

AM Light, a developer and manufacturer of cold cathode lighting solutions for private and public buildings, has won significant contracts in Kuwait (pictured) and Dubai.

It is supplying exterior lighting for a major health clinic in Kuwait City and to a new luxury hotel resort in Dubai.

AM Light took part in the Invest NI mission to Arabian Gulf markets last year and followed up a series of contacts with architects and specifiers developed during the week-long business trip.

Chris McNevison, AM Light Director, said: "With help and advice from Invest NI’s Northern Ireland Technology and Development Centre in Dubai, we pinpointed a number of potential clients throughout the Gulf and arranged to meet them during the mission.

"Our objective on the mission was to explore the market and to develop contacts among specifiers involved in construction projects.

"As it was our first mission, there was no expectation to come back with orders. We were given the opportunity to submit proposals for a number of projects at the meetings and subsequently secured two significant contracts.

"These will give us the reference sites we need in the region to show our expertise and the quality of our products."

Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade Director, added: "Winning significant business on a first mission to highly competitive markets in the Arabian Gulf is a tremendous achievement. It usually takes a couple of trips before business results."

(NS/BMcC)