Northern Ireland has an excellent transport and communications infrastructure, which means that your company can easily do businesses with your customer base around the world.
Transport
From Northern Ireland there is easy access to a European Union market of 500 million people, and connections to the global market are excellent.
The first-rate road network has minimal levels of congestion and brings most of Europe within 24-48 hours.
Three airports deal with over five million passengers a year. Belfast International Airport runs daily scheduled flights to destinations such as New York, London, Rome and Amsterdam.
Between them the ports of Belfast, Londonderry, Larne and Warrenpoint provide some 150 fast ferry and freight sailings per week to Great Britain, Europe and beyond. The Port of Belfast is the busiest port in Ireland.
Communications
Northern Ireland’s communications infrastructure is renowned as state-of-the-art. It enjoys international connectivity at a very competitive cost.
The region also has a strong record of staying at the forefront of communications technology.
Northern Ireland benefits from its own Internet backbone exchange, and telecoms costs are among the lowest in Europe. Investors have access to a truly leading-edge telecoms infrastructure and a burgeoning telecoms sector. The region’s compact size also makes it an ideal test-bed for new communications technology.
Northern Ireland’s telecoms industry is a highly deregulated and competitive market with over 70 operators. Deregulation means better service and lower costs.
Excellent business-focused universities
Northern Ireland’s internationally renowned universities have been key drivers in the development of the region’s technology and knowledge industries. Queen’s University, Belfast, and the University of Ulster have globally recognised research centres across a range of disciplines.
*Source: Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
