US pharmaceutical company CVS Caremark Corporation is to set up an IT centre in Belfast and create 50 jobs in the process.
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster and Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry announced that CVS Caremark Corporation is to set up an Information Systems Development Centre in the city.
The centre will be a best practice centre for the development of leading-edge software for the company.
Invest Northern Ireland has offered stg£300,000 of support. A further stg£200,000 of support has been offered under the Department for Employment and Learning’s Assured Skills Programme.
“Over the past two years, Invest NI has worked closely with the CVS Caremark team to secure this project for Northern Ireland,” said Foster.
“CVS Caremark considered several locations across the globe for its investment but was particularly attracted here by the availability of highly skilled IT professionals, our reliable, high-speed and cost-effective telecoms infrastructure, and the very competitive operating cost environment.
“ICT is a priority sector and one that has huge potential to drive economic growth. When fully in place, these jobs will generate stg£1.5m a year in salaries that will feed into the local economy.”
CVS Caremark plans to collaborate with the higher- and further-education sector in Northern Ireland to design and deliver new training programmes and develop business-relevant curricula.
“Under the Assured Skills Programme, we are able to put together a custom-built training package which assures newcomers to Northern Ireland – as well as growing indigenous businesses – that the skills they need to make their investment a success can be found here,” Farry said.
“This relatively new programme is already playing a strong role in growing our economy and providing employment opportunities for our workers and I plan to build on this successful work.
“It is essential that Northern Ireland strengthens and grows those industries which the future economy is likely to be based around, while also seeking to expand in new emerging industries.”
Stephen Wrenn, senior vice-president, enterprise IT services of CVS Caremark Corporation, said the combination of excellent IT talent on offer in Northern Ireland and the business-friendly environment, including the support from Invest NI and DEL, has led to the company’s decision to establish a presence in Northern Ireland.
CVS Caremark is a Fortune 50 company that employs about 200,000 people.