Trade advisers K Shankar from Feedback Consulting in Mumbai and and T& A's Turan Gupta will work with Barry Clarke, Invest NI's regional director in India, to strengthen business with the sub-continent.

Mr Shankar, a senior executive with Feedback Consulting's Mumbai Office and an electrical engineer, has experience of trade development projects for companies from the UK and other regions.

Mr Gupta, a mechanical engineer, is a co-founder of T&A Trade Consultants and has worked with many smaller companies aiming to grow their business in India.

Alan Hingston, Invest NI's trade director, said the trade advisers would give guidance and advice to Northern Ireland companies hoping to operate in India.

"This will involve pinpointing new market opportunities for our companies and then helping them to take the necessary steps to bid for the business.

"They are an integral part of our network of trade advisers who are providing practical advice and support to help smaller companies in particular to increase export sales. This support network also includes the US, Europe, the Middle East and China."

Around 50 companies took part in the seminar, which came ahead of a trade mission to the Indian business centres of Mumbai and Delhi from September 20 to 27.

The seminar also heard presentations from Denman International in Bangor and AESSEAL MCK in Lisburn, with joint venture manufacturing operations in India. David Hutchinson, a director of AESSEAL MCK, told how it set up a joint manufacturing venture in Mumbai.