SITA expansion to add 123 new jobs in Letterkenny

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin TD today (Thursday 31^st March 2005) announced that SITA INC (Information Networking Computing) is to expand its software operation in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, with the support of IDA Ireland. 123 high quality software development jobs will be created over three years. SITA INC is the world's leading provider of air transport focused applications, communications and IT infrastructure services to the travel and transportation industries.

SITA is unique in that it is owned by the air transport industry and its partners including airlines, airports and air transport organisations throughout the world. Its services and solutions are provided at every stage of a journey, from reservation web bookings and ticketing through check-in, border management and baggage tracking, to departure, flight operations and in-flight communications.

Minister Martin, welcoming the investment, said “it embeds the existing operation in the town and creates additional high value jobs. It is also a significant endorsement of Letterkenny and the whole North-West as a business location as it demonstrates SITA’s confidence in the area’s ability to support such knowledge-intensive and skills-based activities. It will provide a very welcome boost to the employment opportunities in the region.”

Mr. Thomas Marten, Vice President Government and Security Competency Centre, SITA, said “ Due to our increasing requirement for innovative products and solutions and our positive experience with our existing Irish operations we have decided to expand our Letterkenny facility. The other major influence on our decision was the available pool of people with the key skills and knowledge of technologies that we require such as Java, Web Services, XML and Oracle. The operation will develop a number of new products including border control applications, an Internet booking engine and mobile check-in applications.”

The Letterkenny operation was established following SITA’s purchase of Eland Technologies - an Irish software company with operations in Letterkenny and Dublin - in August 2003. It has been integrated into SITA INC‘s Passenger and Travel Solutions business unit and is responsible for the software development of products and services for that unit.

It currently employs 27 people. The Dublin operation, which is responsible for the design and implementation of these products and services, has 28 employees, including finance, sales and marketing personnel.

SITA INC (Information Networking Computing) is the world's leading provider of air transport focused applications, communications and IT infrastructure, enabling its customers to realise greater operational efficiencies and enhanced profitability. Building on a heritage of innovation, the company provides services to air transport customers and to related industries, as well as government authorities, offering a unique portfolio of solutions. SITA INC is registered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and recorded revenues of US$642 million in 2004. Further information can be found at www.sita.aero

While in Letterkenny Minister Martin visited Pramerica Systems Ireland Limited in the town. It operates an international financial services centre that is responsible for software services, administration and customer care for its parent company, US-based Prudential Financial, Inc. and its group of businesses.

Minister Martin said, “Pramerica has grown significantly since establishing in Letterkenny five years ago. The work being undertaken by the company is real evidence that the North West is a successful location for knowledge intensive activities. It is a region in transition from traditional cost based industries to advanced knowledge based sectors. The positive experiences and continued growth of companies such as Pramerica will encourage others to follow in its path.”

Prudential Financial, Inc., and its group of businesses, offer a variety of products and services, including life insurance, mutual funds, annuities, pension and retirement related services and administration, asset management, securities brokerage, banking and trust services, real estate brokerage franchises and relocation services.

For more information, visit www.prudential.com.

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