A Co Armagh construction sector firm, Rapid International, the Tandragee-based manufacturer of equipment for the concrete, construction and environmental sectors has won new business in the Middle East and Mexico as a result of its strategic focus on new export markets.

The company is supplying concrete mixers for Saudi construction projects. Four important contracts for machinery, worth around £250,000, were signed by Rapid during last month's Invest Northern Ireland mission to the business centres of Riyadh and Jeddah.

Rapid, in addition, has supplied its larger concrete mobile mixing plants for the construction of hydro dams in Mexico, this new business is worth around £500,000.

Jarlath Gilmore, Rapid International's Sales & Marketing Director sad: "The business we've recently secured in Saudi Arabia and Mexico is helping to counter the downturn in the construction industry in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the US for Rapid International's main products such as concrete mixers and mobile batching plants.

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"It has also encouraged us to explore other international markets and to develop a new strategy that will widen and strengthen our business base.

"Over the past year, for example, we've looked closely at developing markets in North Africa, South America, and Central Asian nations such as Turkmenistan, as well as established markets in Europe, such as Belgium," he said, noting that "the information we've gained from visiting other international markets has led us to implement our export plan in a very structured way".

He explained: "This strategy is focused on markets like the Middle East region, which will offer us significant scope to grow business from our base in Tandragee.

"Invest NI trade missions, have enabled us to break into the Saudi market and to look at other opportunities in the Gulf and further afield.

"For instance, we will be taking part in the forthcoming Invest NI mission to Kurdistan because our research shows opportunities for our machinery from the infrastructure projects either already underway or planned there," he said.

Welcoming the success, Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade Director, said: "Rapid International was among a group of companies focused on the local construction industry that responded very positively to our proactive approach to help them to find business in more dynamic economies abroad including Saudi Arabia, India, Brazil and Russia.

"The company has pursued these opportunities very professionally, in a timely manner and with determination. It has devoted time and other essential resources and is now reaping the benefits particularly Saudi Arabia, a market investing vast amounts of money to improve its infrastructure.

"The company has also sought to build on opportunities by devising a structured approach to Saudi and other markets, which I am sure, will yield further contracts," added Dr Kell.

(BMcC/GK)