Mon, 15 Sep 2014Two Northern Ireland manufacturing companies are benefitting from government investment in their export businesses, which in turn is helping to create jobs and growth.

Smiley Monroe, a Lisburn-based manufacturer of heavy-duty conveyor belts and rubber parts, is investing £2.4m in a project that will create 31 new jobs over the next two years. Invest Northern Ireland is supporting the company with £300k of assistance towards new equipment and additional factory space.

Speaking during a visit to the company, Alastair Hamilton, chief executive of Invest NI, said the new jobs would offer opportunities to school leavers and the unemployed. The family-run business currently employs 96.

Elsewhere, Warrenpoint-based medical supply firm Clonallon Laboratories has won a £250k contract to supply custom sterile procedure packs for Kuwait.

Invest NI will support the creation of seven new jobs in management, administration and production roles, allowing Clonallon to increase its capacity to service the contract and rise in sales. It currently employs 11 staff.