Eight Belfast businesses are going to Cyprus to explore potential trade links.

The five-day mission will run from Monday November 5 and will be the fifth trade mission organised by Belfast City Council to the Mediterranean island, building on previous successes.

Councillor Michael Browne, Chairman of Belfast City Council’s Development Committee, said: "Since we first explored export opportunities with Cyprus back in 2004, more than 40 local businesses have succeeded in developing strong business links and securing contracts."

Michelle Lestas of Lestas Consulting said: "Since it joined the EU in May 2004, Cyprus has provided a great trading opportunity for Belfast companies. Like Northern Ireland, it is an island on the periphery of Europe with a strong economy and an additional trading market – the Middle East – on its doorstep.

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"Cyprus provides Belfast companies with a stepping stone to international markets, for example some of the meetings set up during this trade mission include one with G4S Security Services (a merger of a local Cypriot company and Group 4 Securitas BV) – now a major player globally.

"There will also be a meeting with a leading contracting company which has carried out projects in Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Greece, the UK and Gibraltar. Another firm from Northern Ireland will be speaking with a major financial institution which has outlets across South-eastern Europe."

A wide range of industry sectors including tourism related, ICT, catering equipment, electronics, architectural services, construction, food and beverage have all been involved in the Cypriot links to date.

This time around the participants have been drawn from telecommunications; event and exhibition management; noise and acoustics consultancy; web design; recruitment solutions; security; finance; waste management, pollution consultants and consultancy services relating to EU Structural Funds and regional and local development.

(GK/JM)