Firms look to Middle East as Brexit looms £1.3m deal... as Invest NI visits Dubai

AS Brexit negotiations continue Northern Ireland’s exporters are turning their attention to the Middle East and finding a willing market for their products.

Dungannon company BLUEMAC Manufacturing has just announced a £1.3million deal with a company in the United Arab Emirates .

And 17 food and drink companies from Northern Ireland are packing their bags ahead of a trade mission organised by Invest NI to a major global food exhibition in Dubai early next week.

Invest NI chief Alastair Hamilton is travelling around Saudi Arabia and the UAE to meet potential investors and buyers for products from these shores.

He said: “The Middle East is a very important market for ambitious Northern Ireland exporters. This visit programme is enabling me to meet with local influencers and potential new investors to sell Northern Ireland as a great place to work and do business.”

He announced the BLUEMAC Manufacturing contract win on the trip. The company designs and manufactures recycling systems and struck the deal with RAK Waste Management Agency, the Government body responsible for waste collection, recycling and treatment for the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.

BLUEMAC sales engineer Chris Brooke said a previous buyer mission allowed the company to meet key contacts such as Sonia Y Nasser in the agency.

He added: “We are delighted to secure this contract in the UAE which is our first in this market.

“We are very much looking forward to continuing to develop relationships in the Middle East which will be vital to our future exporting successes.”

It is being supported by £140,000 toward research and development and marketing from Invest NI.

Meanwhile, the 17 food and drink companies from Northern Ireland will be exhibiting at Gulfood 2018, the world’s biggest food export taking place in Dubai World Trade Center next week.

They include White’s Oats, Coco Mojo, Wilsons Country, SHS Drinks and Glastry Farm, among others.

NEW MARKETS Bluemac’s Chris Brooke, RAK’S Sonia Y Nasser and Alastair Hamilton of Invest NI