Trade and technology links between Derry and the city of San Jose in California, regarded as the computer capital of Silicon Valley, take another step forward this week when representatives of the Derry Development Initiative travel to the United States for the signing of a formal technology agreement.

The "Memorandum of Co-operation", will be signed by the Mayor of San Jose, Ms Susan Hammer, the Mayor of Derry, Councillor Martin Bradley, and the patron of the Derry Investment Initiative, Mr John Hume, MP.

It pledges both cities to work in partnership "to promote mutually beneficial cultural, technological and economic development opportunities between each region".