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Building firm in £2m Gulf boost The Antrim-based construction company Mivan has secured £2m-worth of new business in the Middle East. It has developed a building system that will be used in two new tower blocks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Mivan is one of 16 companies from Northern Ireland taking part in a cross-border trade mission led by Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

The company says it has begun to see the benefits from its Middle East base in Invest NI's Dubai office.

Company spokesman Jim Laughlin said it was important to have a presence in "a very fast moving marketplace which is experiencing huge growth in construction projects".

"Invest NI's office in Dubai gave us an all-important address in the Gulf region and the opportunity to make contacts with key developers as well as network with the business community there," he said.

Invest NI's Tracy Meharg said they wanted to assist other businesses to follow Mivan's example in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

"We want to build on current exports to the region of around £250m, by encouraging companies to take advantage of our missions to the region and also to use our office in Dubai, which offers companies access to staff who are experienced in these markets," she said.

Mivan is among 16 companies from Northern Ireland taking part in the Enterprise Ireland mission to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

The Northern Ireland firms will also be visiting Qatar later this week on a separate Invest NI trade mission.