Invest NI expands global reach with Sydney office

The announcement comes as chief executive, Alastair Hamilton leads a trade mission to Australia this week featuring 13 companies from leading sectors such as ICT, Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering and Life & Health Sciences.

“The Australian market offers Northern Ireland companies exciting opportunities to grow their exports,” he said.

“The latest figures from HMRC show that in the 12 months between July 2016 and June 2017 NI manufacturing exports to the Asia Pacific region increased by 19 per cent to £761million with exports to Australia accounting for £105 million of this.”

Northern Ireland firms including Mallaghan Engineering, Mivan Marine, CDE Global and NC Engineering were, he said, great examples of companies already successfully exporting to the region.

“To build on this and support our businesses in this market we are opening a new office in Sydney.”

This is the eighth location to be announced as part of Invest NI’s commitment to expand its international presence to help companies to grow exports.

“Peter will have a specific focus on helping our businesses to increase exports across Australia and New Zealand,” said Mr Hamilton.

“He will also play an integral role in supporting our strategy to support companies to increase sales outside Northern Ireland by up to £3.1bn by 2021.”

The trade mission is visiting Sydney and Melbourne with representatives from Botanica International, Cirdan Imaging Ltd, Core Systems, Foods Connected Ltd, FSL Electronics, Glens of Antrim Potatoes, Maximus Crushing & Screening, McCloskey Washing Systems, Mivan Marine, Sixty-5, Mallaghan, Ulster Weavers Ltd and Terex participating.