At least 15 companies contacted Gateway Computers this week to express interest in providing technical support facilities to its European, Middle Eastern and African customers.

Mr Mike Maloney, managing director of Gateway Ireland, told The Irish Times yesterday the interested parties were based in the Republic, Britain and Europe.

IDA Ireland is negotiating with Gateway to try to persuade the firm to maintain this part of its business in the Republic despite its decision to exit from Irish and British marketplace.

Many analysts believe the troubled US computer firm may pull out of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia to refocus on its core US markets.

But despite the interest from some foreign companies, Mr Maloney said yesterday Gateway would prefer to keep its technical support facilities in Dublin to save jobs for Gateway employees.

Almost 250 people at Gateway's Clonshaugh facility in Dublin supply technical support over the telephone and e-mail to the firm's customers.