Twenty five local companies - more than half of which are from the construction and building sectors - are in the midst of a Invest NI-backed trade mission to Bulgaria and Romania.

The mission, which will be based in the key business centres of Sofia and Bucharest, is being assisted by commercial staff at UK diplomatic posts in both markets.

The group includes major civil engineering and contracting companies as well as several engaged in activities such as materials handling and recycling, two key industries in Northern Ireland.

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Dr Vicky Kell, Invest NI Trade Director, said both markets offered significant opportunities for Northern Ireland companies.

"Bulgaria and Romania are benefiting from substantial EU-backed investment in the modernisation of their respective economies.

"This covers extensive spending on infrastructural improvement including transportation and telecommunications and also on massive environmental improvement projects," she said.

"EU-supported investment in infrastructure in Bulgaria alone is worth in excess of £8bn."

Dr Kell said staff in Belfast and the commercial posts in Sofia and Bucharest have been assisting the companies in pinpointing business leads and setting up meetings.

"We've also provided expert briefings to companies in advance of the mission and we'll be ready to provide further support to enable individual businesses to return to both markets within six months."

She said this facility is designed to help the firms follow up leads as quickly as possible.

(PR/JM)