Joe Kennedy III has announced that Florida-based company Frontline will be investing £3.8 million in Northern Ireland.
He added: "Frontline is joining the many US investors who have experienced success and growth in Northern Ireland and is setting up its new engineering development team, taking advantage of the excellent skills available and the business-friendly environment.Frontline is one of the largest carriers in the south-east United States with a presence in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and soon-to-be Virginia and Colorado.
"Before confirming the investment, our leadership team visited Northern Ireland and were impressed by what they saw and by the confidence that other US investors have in the region." "Having learned of Northern Ireland's strengths, we were here to create a team to support that objective, and we have been impressed with the calibre of staff we've already taken on board and are already evaluating expansion of our presence here in the future," he said.
"That is why it is of such importance to welcome US and local business leaders here today. There is so much more to do, and so much more of our potential to realise - socially, culturally and economically," he said. "Our world-leading R&D in these areas, flows from our pioneering universities, which alongside our Further and Higher Education institutions ensure that NI has a skills base that is second to none.