US software firm Oracle will set up a new services centre in Belfast to provide customers in the Republic and Britain with software support.
The firm, which already employs 900 staff in Dublin, said it chose Belfast for the new facility because of the availability of staff and the support of Invest Northern Ireland.
"In a climate where upskilling has become a priority for many businesses, including our own, a wider pool from which to recruit skilled workers is a welcome development," said Nicky Sheridan, managing director of Oracle Ireland.
Invest Northern Ireland will support the €1.6 million Oracle investment with public funds worth up to €360,000.
The new support centre will be located in the Laganside area of Belfast.
Meanwhile, shares in Oracle fell 2 per cent in early trading on Wall Street yesterday after it posted a 15 per cent fall in quarterly net profit due to charges related to its $10.6 billion (€8.2 billion) acquisition of PeopleSoft.
Oracle's profit, excluding charges, was ahead of most analysts' expectations and the company raised its full-year profit forecast, but revenue missed analysts' targets on disappointing software application sales.
Oracle's co-president and interim chief financial officer, Safra Catz, said Oracle expected total costs related to PeopleSoft to be about $611 million.
She said a restructuring of PeopleSoft to was expected to be completed in the next six months.
Net income for Oracle's fiscal third quarter ended 28th February fell to $540 million, or 10 cent a share, from $635 million, or 12 cent a share, a year ago.
Revenue rose to $2.95 billion from $2.51 billion, the Redwood Shores, California-firm said. - (Additional reporting, Reuters)
