INTERNATIONAL Business Initiatives (IBI) Ltd, a specialist consultancy firm based in Omagh, recently returned from a successful visit to Vietnam in which it helped Mountcharles-based company McMonagle Stone secure a deal with a well-established Vietnamese stone company for high-grade stone products.

IBI Ltd is owned by local husband and wife team John and Louise Magee. As the name of the firm suggests, it generates opportunities for businesses through co-operation with overseas partners.

The Vietnam visit was made possible through the the North West Growth Initiative, a cross-border project supported by the EU INTERREG IIIA Programme for Ireland/Northern Ireland, Údaras na Gaeltachta and Derry City Council.

John Magee encourages other local companies to explore overseas opportunities.

"Vietnam has recently joined the World Trade Organisation. The country is full of opportunities for local companies that will improve their competitiveness by reducing costs. Vietnam is only one such country however and businesses must be willing to seek out opportunities wherever they may be."

John has certainly put his words into practice, with his team of consultants accompanying clients to Israel, United Arab Emirates, Poland, Serbia, Belgium, USA (Washington, Massachusetts, New York, Florida, Nebraska, Minnesota, Pennsylvania) and Holland within the past nine months.