Economy Minister Arlene Foster said the move has been cited as a further symbol of Northern Ireland's ability to be a significant player in the international market place.

Announcing the advent of the facility to be established by Steria to service its European operations, Mrs Foster said the Province continued to provide a base for global firms looking for the best locations for their business.

"Steria is a major player in the European systems integration market," she said. "Its decision to locate a centre of excellence in Belfast is testimony to its confidence in Northern Ireland."

The facility, which has been backed with £750,000 from Invest Northern Ireland, will develop electronic document records management and customer relations management services for the group across the world.

The centre will be attached to the Steria base in the Province, which will move from Holywood to new city centre premises in Belfast later this year.

With more than 18,000 employees worldwide, Steria has a turnover in the region of £1.6bn. It has had a presence in Northern Ireland for more than a decade and the local workforce has increased from 40 to 200 in the last two years, largely through the acquisition last year of Xansa.

Paul Wickens, managing director of Steria Ireland, said Belfast's reputation and performance were significant factors in the decision to locate the new facility in the city.

"There was stiff competition for this investment from other Steria European locations, but we were convinced that establishing this centre of excellence in Belfast was the right decision. They know we can deliver."

Despite ongoing concerns over skill levels and recruitment, Mr Wickens said the firm was positive about filling the posts required.

"We've already made a start on that and because it's a specific niche that we're going into we know the skills that we need."

Invest NI's director of international development, Bill Montgomery, said the announcement was the fruit of 18 months of talks with the company and a relationship going back many years.

"Steria was going to position this centre somewhere in Europe and their experience in Northern Ireland has been very, very positive and that was a big driver in saying why Northern Ireland could service and support this centre for Europe," he added.

"Northern Ireland is building a brand for IT skills and IT software development and that is a very good thing," said Mr Montgomery.

"It's good as well that we have companies of the calibre of Steria offering opportunities both for people who are here as well as attracting students and others in Britain to come back. Career opportunities are now available in Northern Ireland."