A high-powered trade mission from Massachusetts led by Governor Paul Cellucci will visit Belfast, Derry and Dublin next week. The 50-strong delegation will meet President McAleese and Nobel Prize winner Mr John Hume MP.

Former Tanaiste, Mr Dick Spring will be part of the delegation representing the Mintz Levin International consultancy group of Boston of which he is now a member.

The delegation will represent the state government, and educational and business corporations such as Boston College, IBM, Intel, and Raytheon.

Over the past decade more than 400 companies from Massachusetts have participated in 25 trade missions abroad resulting in more than $1 billion in increased export sales.

Last year exports from Massachusetts to Ireland totalled $411 million. The announcement of this mission from Governor Cellucci's office said: "Ireland will continue to be a key trading partner" as it "develops its highly skilled workforce and continues to provide generous incentives to foreign companies seeking to invest there".

The delegation will arrive in Belfast on Tuesday from Paris where it will attend the air show.

While the delegation explores educational and business contacts, Governor Cellucci will have meetings with Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Dr Mowlam; First Minister, Mr David Trimble and Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon. He will also address the Economic Development Committee of the Belfast City Council.

In Derry, Mr Cellucci will announce details of a business development in the area. He will also participate in a conference - Economies emerging from conflict - organised by the University of Ulster and the University of Massachusetts.

In Dublin Mr Cellucci is scheduled to make a "trade announcement" and give details of the "launching of a new product". After a tour of Intel Ireland and a lunch with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, he will address a reception at the National Gallery hosted by Boston College Irish Institute and the Ireland Chamber of Commerce USA where he will make a business expansion announcement.