Fujitsu Services, the European arm of the Japanese technology giant, is to create 400 jobs in Northern Ireland as part of an £18 million (€26.6 million) investment.
Most of the investment will go towards establishing a managed services centre in Derry, which will employ 328 staff. The new facility will take over the management of technology infrastructure for its clients.
This outsourcing model has become increasingly popular as firms focus on core competencies rather than developing and managing technology.
The centre is to be located at Timber Quay, a 65,000sq ft (19,812sq m) building on the Strand Road in Derry. Developed by Quay Developments, a subsidiary of Lagan Developments, the building was part-funded by Invest Northern Ireland. It is the centre piece of the North West Business and Technology Zone, a new technology park.
Michael Stuart, business development director with Fujitsu, said the jobs would be created over the next three years. By locating in Derry, it also hoped to attract staff from Donegal and Sligo. "Timber Quay was the right place at the right time for us," he said.
As part of the managed services offering, an additional 74 jobs are to be created at the Fujitsu's two existing facilities in Belfast. Fujitsu has received £5.65 million of funding from Invest NI for its expansion.
The company said the total value of the project to the local economy over the next three years will be more than £24 million. David Courtley, chief executive of Fujitsu Services, said the infrastructure, availability of skilled staff and proximity to the UK and Europe were key factors in locating in Derry.
