An initiative that could create up to 200 new high-tech jobs in the Border counties of Armagh and Monaghan is expected to be unveiled next week.
Business bodies and council authorities on both sides of the Border are behind the project which will create a new "digital corridor" to link Armagh with Monaghan.
Armagh Economic Development Group, which is supported by Armagh Council, and the Monaghan County Enterprise Board, both worked together to secure funding for the initiative. Two new high-tech buildings, ATEK in the North and MTEK in the South, have been constructed to house the virtual digital corridor.
Mr Bernard Conlon, business development manager for the digital corridor, said the objective is to attract new investment to Armagh and Monaghan by providing a high-tech location and promoting the talents available in the local workforces.
"We believe the digital corridor is an important part of the infrastructure required to attract potential investors to the area.
"There is a high standard of education in Armagh and Monaghan which provides a good platform on which to build and we believe there are endless numbers of graduates who would welcome the opportunity to come home to work," Mr Conlon said. He said both buildings that will support the digital corridor had been designed to the highest IT specifications.
ATEK, which is due to be officially opened in Northern Ireland next week, has also secured the support of BT and NTL to provide the latest telecommunication facilities to investors. He anticipates that between 80 to 100 jobs could be created at ATEK with a corresponding number of new jobs being located in MTEK.
Mr Conlon believes the introduction of the digital corridor will highlight the opportunities of doing business in the Armagh and Monaghan areas.
"We want the corridor to become a focal point for local economies. We are working with both the Industrial Development Board and the Industrial Development Authority to ensure potential investors are aware of the opportunities that exist."
