Two local firms, North South Marine, Lisnaskea and Teemore Engineering have been enabled to equip themselves with enhanced skills, thanks to Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Product Transfer Programme.
This is a cross border project that is targeted at the small business sector and is managed by ICBAN, the Irish Central Border Area Network.
It was established in 1995 as a network of members from cross-Border Councils with one common aim: to respond to the unique economic and social needs of the central border region.
The project is led by the County Antrim-based North East Partnership in conjunction with Udaras na Gaeltachta in West Donegal, supported by eight Councils, including Fermanagh.
Anne Quinn, the Economic Development Officer with Fermanagh District Council explained that Fermanagh Council had contributed 2,000 euro of matching funding to the 'Product Transfer Programme' which, she revealed, will lead to the creation of 31 new jobs across Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of the Republic.
"This announcement relates to Stage 2 of the Product Transfer Programme", she explained. "In the last round, Teemore Engineering participated. In Phase One, North South Marine took part.
It allowed them to develop new products that they wanted to sell to make them more sustainable and to maybe increase their export potential".
The newly appointed Chairman of the North East Partnership, Alderman PJ McAvoy from Ballymena Borough Council expressed his delight at the findings of the recent independent evaluation undertaken by Peter Quinn Consultants, Enniskillen.
He reported that the Programme was expected to meet if not exceed all its targets and, significantly, it had received the approval of the 30 participating small and medium sized businesses who, collectively, were likely to invest in the region of £1m in their businesses as well as increase their level of export activity.
Brian Armstrong, the owner of North South Marine said the course lasted a year; "It was absolutely beneficial. It involved a lot of different issues from boat ranges to engineering. We have already seen the results, one of which was we introduced a whole new range of boats from Canada."
