Nine Northern Ireland companies left for the Japanese cities of Tokyo and Osaka at the weekend on a two-week trade mission designed to coincide with the year-long Festival UK '98, which was launched last month.

The festival will include a business and trade exhibition at the Tokyo International Forum in Ginza during July and August.

Northern Ireland products will also be featured in a travelling exhibition which will visit a number of Japanese cities during the course of the year, providing opportunities for Northern Ireland companies to promote their products and services.