A major investment by an US aircraft designer will create 64 jobs over the next three years and safeguard 298 others in the North, it was announced today.
B/E Aerospace, which makes cabin interior products for most of the world's leading airlines, is to invest £17 million sterling in its Kilkeel plant.
It will become the company's only production unit for its complete range of aircraft seats. The Northern Ireland Industrial Development Board has offered the company £4 million of selective financial assistance towards the cost of the investment.
Mr Michael Baughan, vice president and general manager of the Florida-based aerospace group, said his company had decided to focus its seat manufacturing operation at Kilkeel as a result of a major cost-reduction programme begun after the September 11th terror attacks in the US.
"We've been impressed by the pride which employees here at Kilkeel have in their work, their attention to detail, their adaptability and the overall flexibility which is a feature of this plant's performance," he said.
The investment was welcomed by the Northern Ireland economy minister, Sir Reg Empey. It follows today's announcement by Belfast shipyard Harland & Wolff that it is to shed 144 jobs over a lack of orders.
The Ulster Unionist minister described B/E Aerospace's investment as a "further significant boost" for one of Northern Ireland's main provincial towns.
"It is, furthermore, a massive endorsement of Northern Ireland as an international industrial location by one of the most respected groups in the aerospace business," he said.
PA