Canadian telecoms firm to create 60 jobs in Belfast

A CANADIAN telecoms company has announced plans to establish a new European headquarters in Northern Ireland in a move expected to create 60 jobs.

BTI Systems also intends to invest £6.7 million (€8.6 million) in the North to develop a software centre of excellence in Belfast over the next three years.

The Ottawa-based group, which was established eight years ago, develops hi-tech systems for the delivery of high bandwidth voice, video and data communications via fibre optic networks.

The company, which is privately held and venture capital backed, said the new Northern Ireland investment represented "a strategic move to expand its presence in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region".

The Canadian organisation has been active in the region for several years and currently has offices in Boston, Massachusetts, Dallas, Texas and Shanghai in China.

Gregory Koss, chairman and chief executive of BTI Systems, said: "The BTI Systems Belfast headquarters will be our main centre of operation in Europe, bringing us closer to new and existing customers and partners and enabling us to continue our rapid growth in the Europe, Middle East and Asia region.

"Northern Ireland offers many advantages as a regional hub. BTI plans to leverage the local talent pool to grow the company's software developmental efforts."

The investment boost for Belfast has been warmly welcomed by the North's Economy Minister, Arlene Foster, particularly in light of the current gloomy economic climate.

The North's economic development agency, Invest Northern Ireland, has offered the Canadian company financial support of £660,000 towards the cost of the investment project.