Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) will bring 23 companies from a wide range of sectors to the UAE and Saudi Arabia this month to explore investment opportunities.
The companies, from sectors including food and beverage, hotel supply chain, animal nutrition, security and specialist construction, will be in the region from May 9 – 13.
While some of the companies already have an established presence in the Middle East, others are entering the region for the first time.
One of the F&B companies involved in the trade mission is sugar-free specialist, Free’ist., established in 2013.
The company has an extensive range containing 20 sugar-free and no added sugar products, including popcorn, chocolate bars, cookies and marshmallows.
Homemade granola company ‘Just Live a Little’, which still produces its granola in a shed next to the owner’s farmhouse beside Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, will also be in the region showcasing its products.
Already, Just Live a Little’s products are available in most reputable UK supermarkets, and in some specialist stores in Dubai.
Another company coming to the region with products for the catering industry, is Kitchenmaster, which has been manufacturing cleaning products for 35 years on-site in Carryduff, Belfast.
The cleaning products are dispatched to Europe, New Zealand and the UAE.
Invest NI is the regional economic development agency for Northern Ireland, and has the role of growing the local economy by helping new and existing businesses to compete internationally and by attracting new investment to Northern Ireland.
Invest NI also works closely with many stakeholders such as UK Trade and Investment, Tourism Ireland, the British Business Groups, British Centres for Business and the Irish Business Network to promote Northern Ireland as a destination for tourism, trade, investment and education.
Bringing together its growing Northern Ireland Diaspora in the form of Northern Irish Connections is another integral part of the overall proposition.
In the Middle East, Invest NI has international business offices in Dubai Internet City and in Jeddah (British Consulate General).
Led by Barry Clarke, the regional headquarters for India, Middle East and Africa is based at the British Embassy, Dubai.
To contact any of the companies on the Invest NI trade mission, contact the company’s Middle Eastern offices: Dubai: + 971 4391 4700 or dubai@investni.com / Jeddah: + 966 2622 5550 / Jeddah@investni.com
