Sixteen on business mission to South East Asia

The mission is the latest in a series of trade visits to dynamic economies throughout Asia Pacific. Earlier in the month, Invest NI enabled six local companies to take part in the Singapore Air Show. Almost 40 companies took part in the trade mission to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing last December. Currently being finalised is a further mission to China that will visit Tianjin, Shenyang and Beijing, and a sectoral mission to ThaiFex – World of Food Asia – in Bangkok.

The current mission to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand includes four companies visiting South East Asia for the first time as part of an Invest NI trade mission – Calcara International Healthcare, Coleraine; Core Systems (NI), Belfast; OptimaNumerics, Belfast; and Seating Matters, Limavady.

Of the 16 companies, four have bases in South East Asia – FM Environmental of Newry has a joint manufacturing venture in Malaysia; Higgins Insurance and Investments has a joint venture in Bangkok; Lowe Refrigeration, Carryduff has a depot in Singapore for its refrigerated display equipment; and Coleraine headquartered Rutledge Joblink has a staff training operation in the Philippines.

Many companies in the mission have also taken advantage of the Invest NI guidance and support for research and arrangements in-market. Nine business are drawn from Northern Ireland’s fast growing tradable services sector – Calcara International; Core Systems (NI); Fayrefield Ireland; First Derivatives; Higgins Insurance and Investments; IBC; Lowe Refrigeration; OptimaNumerics and Rutledge Joblink.

Alan Hingston, Invest NI’s Trade Director, commenting on the mission, says: “Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are all strong and progressive economies and are in addition, founder members of ASEAN, now a major force in the region’s economic development. All three economies offer significant business opportunities across a very broad range of industries. Regular missions that we’ve organised over the past five years have enabled many local companies, including smaller enterprises, to reap the benefits from these growing economies.

“I am confident that the companies on this mission have high quality products and services to enable them either to enter these markets for the first time or to increase existing market share,”

Companies on the Invest NI trade mission to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand from 20-29 February

Calcara International Healthcare, Coleraine – nurse recruitment service

Core Systems (NI), Belfast – access systems using new technologies such as biometrics

Fayrefield Ireland, Belfast – marketing of dairy products

Fintec Crushing and Screening, Ballygawley – mobile crushing and screening machinery

First Derivatives, Newry – financial software

FM Environmental, Newry – waste water management solutions

Glanbia, Lurgan – dairy products

Hawk Protection, Belfast – personnel protection garments

Higgins Insurance and Investments, Belfast – financial services

IBC, Bangor – musical instruments

Lowe Refrigeration, Carryduff – refrigerated display equipment

Mallaghan, Coalisland – ground handling and catering equipment for airports

OptimaNumerics, Belfast – supercomputer software

Rutledge Joblink, Coleraine – recruitment and training services

Seating Matters, Limavady – seating for disabled people

Sepha, Dundonald – healthcare packaging equipment