The success of the technical support company, Stream International, could attract new US call centre investment to Northern Ireland, according to Industrial Development Board (IDB) chairman, Dr Alan Gillespie. Dr Gillespie was speaking at the opening of the Stream Centre in Derry's Ulster Science and Technology Park.

"This is the highest end of the call centre market," he said, "providing technical backup to the customers of some of the biggest computer firms in the world. The substantial investment and achievements of Stream here in Derry could exert an important influence on companies seeking a base from which to service customers in the rapidly-expanding information and telecommunications industries."

Stream handles calls on behalf of two of the world's largest equipment suppliers - Hewlett Packard and Dell, as well as one of the world's main Internet service providers, Microsoft Network.

The company's chairman and chief executive officer Steve Moore said its experience since setting up in Northern Ireland three years ago had been very positive, even though some of their clients had reservations.

Stream is a leading provider of outsource technical support services, employing 5,500 people worldwide. The site at Derry is one of three European locations, from which it provides technical support by telephone, email, and the Internet to major corporations and the customers of leading hardware manufacturers, software publishers, and online service providers.