INTERNATIONAL companies in Northern Ireland are increasing growth, confident of supporting their development of new business opportunities there and worldwide. The investment is seen as a "resounding endorsement" of the quality of the country's skills base and its business environment.

One of the companies, a French-owned call centre, is expanding its operations in Northern Ireland with the creation of 610 jobs. Teleperformance offers business services to the international retail, banking, telecommunications, travel and health sectors.

Furthermore, global diagnostics firm Randox Laboratories is to invest 9.2 million pounds in Northern Ireland. Independently owned Randox - based in Crumlin, County Antrim - specialises in the development of sophisticated chemical diagnostic tests and devices, primarily targeted at hospital, clinical and veterinary laboratories worldwide. It employs more than 500 people there and a further 190 overseas in a network of sales and distribution offices serving more than 100 countries.

Teleperformance will be expanding its flagship Newry hub in County Down with the help of a support grant of three million pounds from Invest NI, Northern Ireland's economic agency. Teleperformance chief executive Jeff Smith said: "The demand for outsourcing is increasing as companies look for more cost-effective methods of managing key business activities.

"Thus we identified a need for a major expansion at one of our UK sites which would support the development of new business opportunities across Europe," he added. "Newry and Bangor have rapidly become a vital part of our UK network and I am confident we will be able to attract a similar calibre of people to support our strategic growth plans, with Newry becoming our flagship centre in the UK."

Stormont is the seat of the Northern Ireland Assembly and its Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said that the confidence placed in Northern Ireland by international companies seeking competitive location is encouraging.

She added: "It is a resounding endorsement of the quality of our local skills base and our business environment which Invest NI continues to actively market in order to secure investment and reinvestment.

"The number and variety of Teleperformance positions will offer career development in the business-services sector and competitive pay, and facilitate the development of valuable, transferable skills."

By the time all positions are filled, Teleperformance expects to have 2,000 people based at its Newry and Bangor sites, making the firm one of the region's largest employers.

Invest NI, through its R&D grant programme, has offered 3.1m pounds, with part funding from the European Regional Development Fund, towards the investment by Randox.

The funding will support R&D, across three distinct projects, into the latest diagnostics solutions that will enhance the company's product offering and develop production efficiencies as it seeks to grow its global market share, particularly in Asia.

The founder and managing director of Randox, Dr Peter Fitzgerald, said: "More than one third of our staff based in Northern Ireland are engaged in key R&D activities. This helps us continuously refine and add to our range of diagnostic tools and, crucially, enables us to retain our existing clients and attract new ones.

"Asia, in particular the Far East, currently represents our fastest growing market and we are keen to fully exploit the potential that the area presents. With the support of Invest NI, this investment will enable us to compete and succeed there in the medium to long term while also maintaining our strong position in Europe and the US," he added.

Stormont Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster continued: "Since its establishment in 1982, Randox has developed an internationally renowned reputation for excellence in the high-tech world of clinical diagnostics. This has enabled the company to become a multinational success story, generating revenues in excess of 50m pounds annually.

"These latest investments by Randox, supported by Invest NI, will see the company further develop its already strong research capability and underline its long-standing commitment to seeking out new and improved diagnostic solutions. By recognising the long-term commercial value of innovation, Randox is positioning itself well to withstand the challenges of the recession and continue to add significant value to the economy."

Ms Foster added: "As the global economy continues to challenge even the most resilient businesses, this locally owned company is an inspiration to the wider business community. Dr Fitzgerald's commitment to research and to world-class products has never wavered and the company has gone from strength to strength as a result. Randox is a true example of how innovation can sustain business success and deliver high quality employment opportunities."