A US company is establishing a software development centre in Belfast, promising more than 300 new jobs. Information Management Resources from Florida is investing £2.8 million to service its expanding business in the US and to provide a springboard to European markets.

The Industrial Development Board is supporting the investment with grants of £1.9 million, according to yesterday's announcement of the project.

It will be the company's first offshore software development centre outside India.

Mr Satish Sanan, the company president said the ready availability of skilled information technology professionals and graduates, and the North's telecommunications network were key factors attracting the company to Northern Ireland.

The company provides application software outsourcing for the information technology departments of large businesses in the US, UK and Western Europe. It employs 850 people worldwide and is listed on Nasdaq, the US stock exchange.

"Sortware is developing into one of Northern Ireland's most significant sunrise industries and currently employs 2,500 people in 40 companies," according to the Minister of State, Mr Adam Ingram.

Other recent inward investments in the sector included: Liberty Mutual, STB Systems and DART, which demonstrated the growing international recognition of Northern Ireland as a centre for innovative software development.