REPRESENTATIVES from 30 Northern Ireland companies are visiting the Arabian Gulf states this week as part of the IDB's biggest ever trade mission. The delegation is being assisted by the IDB's Northern Ireland Trade Development Centre (NITDC) in Dubai, which was established in October 1994 to promote trade in the Arabian Gulf and other regions of the Middle East.

Leading the mission is Mr Bill McGinnis, chairman of Northern Ireland Middle East Exports (NIMEX), an advisory body set up by the private and public sectors. Mr McGinnis is also chairman of Sperrin Metal Products, which makes metal shelving and storage equipment, and has a base in Dubai.

Business with the Middle East has grown steadily over the past five years, and the region is now one of Northern Ireland's top 10 export markets.

The current mission includes a number of companies new to the market, including the clothing manufacturer Desmond and Sons, O'Neill Valley Metal Works, which specialises in sculptural steelwork, and the agricultural and construction equipment company TBF Thompson.

The companies taking part represent a broad cross section of Northern Ireland industry, including engineering, food processing, the linen industry, computer software, building supplies, clothing, and packaging.

Meanwhile, about 60 executives from Northern Ireland companies were briefed about business opportunities in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg at a Begin in Benelux seminar organised by the Department of Trade and Industry in association with the IDB.

Mr Gerry McConnell, head of the IDB's Business Information Services, said the aim was to encourage companies which may be new to exporting to take advantage of business opportunities in mainland Europe, which have the major advantages of geographical proximity. "In 1995 services worth more than £20 million were sold to this region by UK exporters, he added.