THE UK's Board of Trade will meet in Northern Ireland for the first time today and honour six local businesses.
International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox brings the board to Belfast for the first time in its almost 400-year history and in the landmark visit
will present six firms with awards recognising exemplary performance in international trade.
Newry-based firms, STATSports, MJM Marine and First Derivatives, along with Cookstown wet processing equipment firm, CDE Global will receive
Board of Trade Awards (BOFTAs) today. Belfast software Datactics and Portadown fit-out specialists, Deluxe Group will also receive the accolade for exceptional performance in international trade.
The CEO of Manufacturing NI, Stephen Kelly has also been named as one of three new advisers to the Board of Trade, alongside Scotch Whisky Association CEO, Karen Betts and former International Trade Minister, Greg Hands.
They will join the existing twenty advisers, drawn from a cross section of business, industry and nations of the UK.
STATSports CEO and co-founder Alan Clarke said they are thrilled to receive the exclusive award.
"This is a hugely exciting time for us at STATSports as we embark on the next stage of our journey."
“We have already established our performance monitoring technology with some of the biggest and best-known sporting organisations in the world and this international recognition will help us to expand our reach even further in both the elite and everyday field sports sector," he said.
Dr Fox said he is encouraged by the export prowess of Northern Ireland businesses and urged more local firms to become part of the UK-wide Export Advocate community.
“Northern Ireland is a cornerstone of the UK economy and plays a vital role in securing the United Kingdom’s shared prosperity. That’s why my international economic department offers a full range of services to exporters from Northern Ireland, including £33 million of UK Export Finance support last year alone, which has already resulted in more than £46 million worth of overseas sales – underpinning jobs and growth," he added.
