AN ELECTRICAL services company based in Mallusk has signed a deal in China that could be worth £20 million.
BI Electrical has agreed a memorandum of under-standing with Keenshine, an electrical technology firm in Shanghai.
As part of the tie up, BI Electrical has set up an office in the Chinese business centre.
The agreement is the result of a tri-party agreement between Keenshine, BI Electrical Services and its wholly foreign-owned enterprise, SBI Electrical operating in Shanghai.
BI Electrical Services will deliver testing, inspection and commissioning services as well as facilities management as part of the agreement.
The company's managing director Ian Humphreys said: "A strategic decision by the company, encouraged and assisted by Invest NI, to focus resources on China, nearly two years ago, is starting to pay dividends.
"Over the last two years, we've been building the relationships and getting the necessary licences in place to be able to operate in the Chinese market.
"Our standing as one of the UK's top electrical engineering companies has allowed us to enter the market with a strong track record for delivering high quality projects.
"Our partnership with Keen-shine reflects our focus on building long-term relationships with industry leaders in the Chinese market. Invest NI has been a fundamental element to supporting our export growth strategy."
Invest NI's head of Asia Pacific, Michael Garvey, said it was "an extremely significant and immensely encouraging development for one of our leading electrical engineering businesses in the world's most dynamic marketplace, one we have been encouraging and assisting local companies to explore over many years".
"This announcement comes during what has been another highly successful trade and business mission and further underlines the benefits of developing relationships in China," he added.
"China is fast becoming a hugely important market for local companies. Our visits are designed to showcase the expertise, quality products and services that our companies can provide and to support those businesses focusing on business there."
Keenshine president Jack Zhang added: "This tri-party agreement significantly strengthens our capabilities. It also gives us an advantage to service our existing clients from China which are currently entering the UK and EU market through BI Electrical Services, one of the most respected names in the industry. We look forward to a long and fruitful relation-ship in the months and years ahead."