Jobs Boost For NI As US Firms Invest

There's positive news of about 60 jobs heading across the Atlantic this afternoon after Stormont First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness announced investment in NI by the US-based Dow Chemical Company and the Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster announced a £1.7m investment by US based Terex Corporation.

The Terek move will involve 35 new high skilled jobs being created as the corporation locates its European Global Business Services Centre in Northern Ireland.

The Minister, pictured with Kieran Hegarty, President Terex Materials Processing, made the announcement in Washington, at the start of the US-NI Economic Conference being hosted by Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Terex Corporation is a global manufacturer producing an extensive range of equipment for a broad spectrum of sectors including the construction, infrastructure, recycling, shipping, transportation and maintenance industries.

Within Northern Ireland, Terex already has two manufacturing units in Dungannon and Omagh, employing over 1,000 people in the manufacture of mobile crushing and screening equipment.

Arlene Foster commented: "Terex already has a considerable footprint in Northern Ireland and is a significant employer at its two plants in Co Tyrone.

"The decision to also locate its European Business Services Centre in Northern Ireland is an acknowledgement of the value placed on our local capabilities and the support offered by Invest NI.

"Winning new investment in high value sectors, such as Business Services, is the focus of today's conference.

"This announcement is an excellent example of the type of project we are working to secure and provides further credibility to Northern Ireland's proposition as a business and financial services location," she said.

Ron DeFeo, Chairman of Terex Corporation, commented: "Establishing the European GBS centre in Northern Ireland is a major step in our plans to organise and deliver internal support services more efficiently and effectively.

"The assistance offered by Invest NI has been instrumental in our decision to base the centre in Dungannon."

Invest Northern Ireland has offered Terex £369,000 to secure this investment for Northern Ireland which will safeguard six existing jobs and create 35 new high skilled positions.

The Terex Global Business Services Centre based in Dungannon will provide centralised support for finance functions across European business operations.

This centre is the second in the corporation's global initiative aimed to link Terex manufacturing, accounting, supply chain and human resources processes.

Commitment

Meanwhile, the Dow Chemical Company is to establish a Dow Design & Modify Supply Chain (D&MSC) Centre in Belfast, creating 25 new high quality jobs.

The new centre will help ensure that the company's supply chain is optimally designed to respond to emerging social and economic trends and customer needs around the globe.

It also reflects Dow's commitment to leverage its Business Services expertise to drive more value to the market through Dow's businesses and joint ventures as the company seeks to become a high-growth earnings company.

Dow is one of the largest chemical companies in the world with annual sales of approximately $45billion in 2009 and over 52,000 employees worldwide.

Speaking in Washington in advance of the US-NI Economic Summit, where the announcement was made, First Minister Peter Robinson said: "In travelling to the US to reinforce the NI investment proposition, there can be no greater endorsement of our world class skills and knowledge base than an investment by a company of this calibre.

"Offering salaries well above the NI private sector average, this is an investment which will deliver quality career opportunities to the people of Northern Ireland and result in a significant, welcome boost to the local economy."

(BMcC)