JRI America is to establish a software development operation in Tralee that may create up to 100 highly skilled positions over the next five years.
The company, the specialist IT subsidiary of Japanese financial services company Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), said recruitment is already under way for a number of positions.
The operation, which will be located in the Kerry Technology Park in Tralee, will support the group’s western hemisphere IT operations, including US, UK and Dubai, and potentially other markets in due course.
A range of functions, including Java software development and testing, network support, data centre support, testing and help desk activities will be created.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, said, “this investment shows our capacity to provide an increasingly competitive, business-friendly environment in which technology companies can grow and develop”.
“Technology is a vital part of the foundation for SMFG that allows this global bank to deliver innovative, reliable products and services for our customers throughout the world,” said Michael O’Dea, president and chief operating officer, JRI America, Inc.
“We believe that Ireland offers our company a unique opportunity where there is not only strong Government support for innovation and business but also a deep pool of talented people with strong technical skills from which to build our team,” he said.
“We are looking for JRI America’s technology development centre to provide comprehensive technical skills, combined with the support for business development. The team in Tralee will be at the forefront of JRI America’s objectives to develop innovative technology capabilities that stand us apart from the competition.”
IDA Ireland CEO Barry O’Leary said it is a very significant investment in Ireland by a major Japanese bank which will create a substantial number of highly skilled positions in a hub location under the National Spatial Strategy, which is an important regional target for IDA.
SMFG which owns Japan’s second-largest bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) by asset size and a Fortune Global 200 company, offers a broad range of financial services, primarily banking-related. SMBC was an early entrant to the IFSC in Dublin in 1989 through the establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary, Sumitomo Mitsui Finance Dublin Ltd, to provide lending and asset financing services to corporate customers of the group.
Article courtesy of Businessandleadership.com
