Up to 160 new software jobs are to be created in Belfast following the decision of an Indian company to open an office in the city, it emerged today.
The investment by Polaris Software Lab was announced on the final day of a five-day business mission from Northern Ireland to India and was hailed as a landmark investment by Peter Hain.
The Northern Ireland Secretary said in Chennai: "It is exactly the type of investment we need to signal a transformation of Northern Ireland's economy down the knowledge-based route.
"This is the first green field software investment by an Indian technology company on the island of Ireland."
Polaris is planning a banking and financial application certification centre in Belfast, creating 158 jobs over the next three years.
Invest Northern Ireland has pledged £1.5 million in public money towards the investment project.