26 April 2001
FARREN CONGRATULATES SOFTWARE INDUSTRY FEDERATION
"The Software Industry Federation will have an important role to play in the development of the Northern Ireland economy," Dr Sean Farren, the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, said tonight.
Speaking at a gala dinner to mark the 10th anniversary of the Federation, the Minister said that the software industry had been one of the success stories of the last decade.
Dr Farren said: "In its Programme for Government the Executive has recognised that securing a competitive economy is a priority if we are to make a difference for the better.
"Achieving that is obviously easier said than done, but it is clear that grasping the information age technologies is a must if we are to succeed.
"The software sector is a vital part of that. It has experienced substantial growth in recent years and it offers further opportunities for individuals, companies and Northern Ireland as a whole.
"What we need to do is make sure we are best placed to identify and grasp those opportunities. Government can, and will, help. But to succeed we need a partnership involving industry, educationalists and government working together and that is where the Software Industry Federation, its member companies and other software businesses have a role to play.
"I have no doubt that the Federation will build on its achievements and continue to act as a catalyst for improvement. Together we can create a dynamic and globally focused industry that will provide high quality employment and underpin Northern Ireland’s transition to a knowledge based economy."
The gala dinner, which was attended by senior representatives from software and telecom companies, educationalists, the public sector and UK/ROI sister bodies, was held in the Culloden Hotel, Holywood.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Software Industry Federation (SIF) was established in 1990 as a result of a joint report, ‘Growth through Excellence’, on the local software sector by IDB and LEDU. SIF is an employer-led organisation, with a full time Chief Executive and Board of Directors elected by its member companies. It currently employs 7 staff and has 180 members drawn from all strands of the computing community and includes software developers, in-house computing departments, hardware suppliers, computer service companies, universities and colleges and consultants.
The Northern Ireland ICT sector has risen from an employment base of 900 in 1990, to over 6,000 currently, while turnover in the same period has grown to over £220m. The sector is poised for significant future growth.
For further information please contact the Software Industry Federation on 028 9033 3939.