MORE than 300 jobs are expected to be created in the next two years by companies taking part in a cross Border PLATO programme which was launched in Newry, Co Down, yesterday afternoon. PLATO Louth/Newry & Mourne will allow small and medium size companies to benefit from the experience and expertise of nine larger "parent" companies from across the region.

This is the first cross Border initiative of its kind and was formally launched by the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, and the Northern Ireland Economy Minister, Baroness Denton. The programme is a joint initiative of the Louth County Enterprise Board, the Dundalk Employment Partnership and the Newry & Mourne Enterprise Agency.