JAPANESE owned companies are making a major contribution to the development of the Northern Ireland economy and are creating much needed jobs, according to the Japanese ambassador to the UK, Mr Hiroaki Fuji.

Mr Fuji made the comments during a visit to open the new 50,000 square foot Fujitsu Telecommunications plant in west Belfast, which the company moved into 10 days ago.

Mr Fuji said the investment showed that Japanese companies were playing their part in the upturn in inward investment.

"Northern Ireland is outperforming most of the UK regions in terms of growth in industrial production, manufacturing output, and export sales", he said, "and is projected to continue to enjoy rapid growth."