Northern Ireland companies visit South East Asia

Senior executives from nine Northern Ireland companies will be visiting markets in South East Asia from 14-24 April to strengthen trade links and explore other business opportunities.

The mission is the latest in a series of Invest Northern Ireland trade development initiatives to markets in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. As well as promoting Singapore as an important market in its own right, Invest NI is encouraging Vietnam and the Philippines.

Most of the participating companies already have businesses in Singapore and the wider South East Asia region.

One of the companies in the delegation, Lowe Refrigeration, a global market leader in the supply of refrigerated equipment for food exhibitions, has had an office in Singapore for many years.

FM Environmental, a specialist in waste water treatment systems, has a successful joint venture with a manufacturer in Malaysia. Mallaghan Engineering also has significant business in the region, including Vietnam for its range of airport ground handling machinery.

Claire Gadd, the Invest NI mission manager, said: “This is a small but highly focused group that comprises companies with considerable experience of business in the ASEAN region.

“All the companies are here to do business and are confident that the products and services they have to offer will attract attention in this dynamic marketplace. As experienced exporters, they have the processes and commitment to meet the requirements in terms of quality, value for money and delivery of existing and potential customers.

“Our focus on ASEAN, which usually involves at least one trade mission every year, has encouraged and assisted many Northern Ireland companies to develop successful business relationships here.”

(JM/KMcA)