N.Ireland Minister hails MoU by University of Ulster

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Mumbai, April 12 (UNI) University of Ulster, Northern Ireland today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology(IIT), Mumbai in relation to agreed research in nanotechnology, wireless technology, network communications and modelling of micro-fluidics.

Addressing a press conference, United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and MP, Peter Hain said, ''Building strategic alliances at this time will help improve competitiveness and boost our skills base. This can only be of benefit to both our economic and our socieites.'' Replying to a question, Mr Hain said that apart from IIT-Mumbai, the University of Ulster has opened discussions with New Delhi's Jamia Milia University and Chennai University for collaboration in various research fields. He said collaboration between higher educational institutions in Northern Ireland and India will be the key in helping both economies keep pace with the challenges of globalisation.

Mr Hain observed that India is set to become a economic super power and will be a dominant force in world economy. Stating that a number of Northern Ireland companies in engineering and software and other sectors are already engaged in successful business in India, Mr Hain said, ''however, I believe that a great many more companies here could and should be seeking to grasp the tremendous opportunities now emerging in what has become the world's fastest growing free market economy.'' Raising Northern Ireland's profile, as an attractive inward investment location, he said it will also help to encourage more Indian companies to follow the example of HCL Enterprises which has highly successful contact centres in Belfast and Armagh.

He pointed out that the first inward investment in Northern Ireland from India, HCL has invested over 16 million sterling pounds here and increased employment five fold since 2001.

''Currently India is the eighth largest investor in the UK, with over 500 companies based in Great Britain.'' Mr Hain, currently leading a delegation to India accompanied by representatives of 17 Northern Ireland business houses, also spoke about the visit of 14 Bollywood producers to the island of Ireland last week, when they toured some of the island's most iconic sites for possible filming locations.

UNI SN PP SS VC2212

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