The Belfast personnel agency, Grafton Recruitment, has opened offices in Johannesburg as part of its continued expansion and development. The company says that the move represents a substantial investment which will produce new jobs, and increase the profile of Northern Ireland firms internationally.

Marketing manager Mr Bernard Roddy said that it was part of an ambitious expansion programme.

"For too long our economy has been dominated by UK multinationals, which have attempted to take over the domestic market," Mr Roddy said.