IT jobs created in £1.4m venture

Forty new IT jobs are to be created in Belfast.

Leading US firm ACS International Resources Inc (ACSI) plans to plough £1.4 million into the Industrial Development Board-backed venture, to be completed by the end of 2003.

Announcing the plans, Enterprise Minister Sir Reg Empey hailed plans to establish the Northern Ireland off-shoot as a significant boost to the province's IT sector.

He said: "This project represents ACSI's first expansion in Europe and will position Northern Ireland at the forefront of their future growth strategy and further enhance the development of the knowledge-based economy here."

He pointed out that since being formed in 1992 the IT services support company has enjoyed impressive growth, regularly featuring in the prestigious Inc 500 list of America's fastest growing private companies.

The firm employs 250 people at its headquarters in Delaware, with another 30 based at its Indian subsidiary.

The cost of its investment in a Belfast base in the Merrion Business Centre at Howard Street has been boosted by a £200,000 IDB grant.

ACSI chief executive Milan Patel explained that the move was vital to its unique business model aimed at delivering a cost-effective product.

"Northern Ireland provides us with an ideal location to fulfil our aim of broadening our customer base and scope of services by targeting the wider US and European markets," he said.

"We intend to target software development companies that develop products for the US retail market and large US retail store chains."