Northern Ireland

Supporting business growth

Northern Ireland has the right blend of talent, innovation, expertise, and resources to help your business succeed. With world-class products and services and a proven track record, we are an ideal trading partner and a top choice for companies looking to expand their operations.

Who is Invest Northern Ireland?

Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) is the region’s economic development agency.  We introduce companies from India, the Middle East and Africa to world-class products and services from Northern Ireland exporters. We also help companies from IMEA scale internationally into Northern Ireland, providing tailored overseas expansion guidance and soft landing support.

Invest NI established its first office for the IMEA region in Dubai in 1994. We now have six offices dotted around this diverse region:

  • Dubai (regional HQ): covering UAE, Bahrain and Oman
  • Jeddah: covering Saudi Arabia and the Levant region 
  • Doha: covering Qatar, Kuwait, and Iran
  • Johannesburg: covering Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Cairo: covering North Africa
  • Mumbai: covering India

The offices are ably supported by experienced in-market staff and advisors in key markets with relevant market and sector expertise.

Contact us to find out how we can help your company grow

  • Buy from Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland supplies world-class products and services to more than 100 countries, with over 250 companies from Northern Ireland exporting to the IMEA region. Our engineering and manufacturing expertise solves the most difficult challenges. Our life science innovations shape tomorrow’s healthcare. And our tech know-how is building the future of fintech, cybersecurity, and data analytics. Our experienced exporters are keen to develop new trade partnerships across India, the Middle East and Africa.

  • Locate in Northern Ireland

    Northern Ireland, the UK region uniquely located on the island of Ireland, is the ideal location for foreign direct investment (FDI). More than 1,200 international companies already operate there, benefiting from our talented workforce, competitive operating costs, and world-class infrastructure. They also enjoy our high standard of living, business-friendly support packages, and easy access to global markets.

    Download our This is Northern Ireland brochure in English (PDF)

  • Global sourcing

    We have an established track record as a global business partner, exporting to over 100 countries.

  • Competitive costs

    Operating costs are up to 30% lower than other locations in the UK and Europe.

  • Business friendly

    We are home to one of Europe’s most business-friendly cities of our size and offer financial incentives for employment, training and R&D.

  • A wealth of talent

    Northern Ireland boasts highly skilled, loyal and motivated people who always go the extra mile.

How we can help your business

  • Exhibitions & trade shows

    Our trade team can connect you with Northern Ireland exporters taking part in sector trade shows around the world. 

    View our trade calendar

  • Meet the buyer events

    Meet the buyer events organised by our trade team offer an opportunity to meet and talk to our trusted exporters in your sector.

    View our trade calendar

  • Business networks

    We can help connect you with business networks across a range of sectors including technology, financial, professional & business services, advanced manufacturing and life & health sciences.

  • Talent validation

    We’ll help assess whether the talent you need can be found in Northern Ireland and make relevant introductions to help you source it, including to our world-leading universities and colleges.

  • Property search and selection

    We can help with your search for suitable premises, connecting you to relevant databases and property agents in the region.

  • Financial incentives

    Our financial support includes grants for employment, R&D and training. UK Export Finance can offer attractive financing terms to buyers of Northern Ireland goods and services.

    Find out more.

Our sectors

Materials handling

Area of sector expertise

  • Mining and construction
  • Recycling
  • Handling equipment and vehicles
  • Agri-machinery
  • Supply chain
  • 40% of the world’s mobile stone crushing and gravel screening equipment is made in Northern Ireland.
  • When you buy from Northern Ireland, you buy 60 years of leading the world in Mobile Bulk Materials Processing equipment.
  • 8,000 people are employed in over 100 companies.
  • Machinery manufactured in Northern Ireland is sold to customers in over 100 countries.

Find a supplier from our materials handling directory

Businesses here include

  • Terex Corporation logo
  • Kiverco logo
  • Telestack

Advanced manufacturing and engineering

Area of sector expertise

  • Aerospace and defence
  • Automotive
  • Construction
  • Materials handling
  • Electronics
  • Green growth and renewable energy
  • Consumer products
  • Products exported to over 100 countries.
  • 44,000 employees in 2,000 companies.
  • Operating costs up to 34% lower than USA, 30% lower than France and 36% lower than Germany.

Businesses here include

  • Terex Corporation logo
  • SDC Trailers logo
  • Ulster Carpets Logo

Food and drink

Area of sector expertise

  • Meat
  • Dairy
  • Drinks
  • Other
  • World leader in traceability and food security. We created APHIS, an electronic cattle tracing database.
  • Food and drink products from Northern Ireland are available in more than 70 countries.
  • Home to Bushmills, the oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world.
  • Our award-winning food and drink comes with full traceability from farm to fork.

Find a supplier from our food and drink directory

Businesses here include

  • Greenfields Ireland logo
  • Moy Park logo
  • Bushmills logo
  • pujana tea logo

Life and health sciences

Area of sector expertise

  • Precision medicine
  • Pharma and biotech
  • Clinical trials
  • Diagnostics
  • Medtech
  • Vibrant cluster of 250+ businesses, international investors and indigenous companies, employing 8,500.  Exporting globally to over 140 countries.
  • Over 17 world-leading research centres with more than 1,000 researchers
  • 10% of the world's cholesterol tests are made in Northern Ireland.

Find a supplier from our life and health sciences directory

Businesses here include

  • Armstrong Medical logo
  • TriMedika logo
  • CIGA logo

Technology

Area of sector expertise

  • Cyber security
  • AI and data analytics
  • Sports technology
  • Telecom, mobile and data networks
  • IT services
  • GovTech
  • Smart cities
  • Belfast is Europe’s leading FDI destination for new software development.
  • 100+ international technology investors.
  • 70% of our IT & telecoms professionals hold a higher education qualification – the highest in the UK.

Businesses here include

  • IBM logo
  • Intel Logo
  • SAP logo
  • See.Sense logo
  • Yellow Design logo
  • FD Technolgies logo

International education

Area of sector expertise

  • Queens University
  • Ulster University
  • University-affiliated teacher training colleges
  • English language teaching
  • Boarding schools
  • Vocational education and training
  • Northern Ireland hosts 45,000 students from over 100 countries.
  • Northern Ireland is recognised as having one of the best education systems in Europe. We’re also renowned for our high quality of life, low cost of living, clean environment, lively social scene and the friendliness of our people.
  • Queen’s University is in the top 1% of universities in the world.
  • Ulster University ranks in the Times Higher Education Supplement’s 150 under 50 – a global comparison of young universities.

Businesses here include

  • Ulster University logo
  • Queen's University Belfast logo

Explore our other sectors

Area of sector expertise

  • Global business services
  • Financial services
  • Professional and legal services
  • Construction
  • Aerospace and defence
  • Green economy and renewable energy
  • Creative technology

Businesses here include

  • firstsource
  • Citi
  • Baker McKenzie logo
  • Farrans logo
  • Spirit Aerosystems company logo
  • Jam logo

Contact us

Get in touch to discuss how Invest NI can help support your company's international growth and connect you with suppliers. You can contact a member of our team directly via LinkedIn.

Keep up to date with the latest news and information by following us on our social media channels:
@InvestNI_IMEA  Invest Northern Ireland - India, Middle East and Africa

  • United Arab Emirates

    IMEA Headquarters

    T: +971 4309 4247

    See on map

  •  

    Dubai Office

    T: +971 4391 4700

    See on map

  • Saudi Arabia

    Jeddah Office

    See on map

  • North Africa

    Cairo Office

    T: +202 2791 6000

    See on map

  • South Africa

    Johannesburg Office

    T: +277 8411 1612

    See on map

  • India

    Mumbai Office

    See on map

Please get in touch.  You can find a team in your region or fill in an enquiry form and a member of the team will contact you directly.

For information on how we use your personal data including your rights, see our privacy notice.

Discover how Northern Ireland can support your business growth.

Our short videos showcase why Northern Ireland is a great place to invest in, work with and live.  Find out more about our industry strengths and capabilities, what we offer international investors and get a glimpse of the beautiful landscapes and vibrant cityscapes of Northern Ireland. 

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