A US company is creating 60 jobs with the establishment of a research and development centre in Belfast, it was announced today.

The news came as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Northern Ireland for the first time since taking up her post in President Barack Obama's administration.

The £4.4 million investment is being made by Boston-headquartered NaviNet, America's largest real-time healthcare communications network.

The high-value skilled jobs will be delivered over the next three years in what is NaviNet's first expansion outside the US.

Announcing the investment, Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: "NaviNet is a highly innovative company which, over the last 10 years, has developed unique ICT solutions for the healthcare industry in the US.

"The company has ambitious plans to win new business and significantly increase its revenues over the next several years.

"After considering a number of potential international locations, its decision to invest in Northern Ireland is a mark of its confidence in this region's competitiveness and the availability of talented ICT professionals."

The investment would deliver over £2 million a year in salaries into the local economy and underlined Invest NI's ability to secure quality investors for the region, she said.

"NaviNet will join the growing cluster of world-class healthcare and ICT companies here and enhance our growing global reputation for excellence," added Mrs Foster.

Brad Waugh, NaviNet's president and chief executive, said: "At a time when healthcare reform is one of the most pressing issued facing the American government and public, NaviNet has committed to investing in resources both domestically and internationally to deliver solutions that address US healthcare challenges and contribute to improving quality of care and reducing costs."

Mr Waugh said the company had looked at various options and locations but decided on Belfast in recognition of its many attractions, especially the quality workforce.

"I'm confident that the Belfast centre will play an important role in the future growth and success of NaviNet," he said.

The company supplies a real-time communications network securely linking more than 800,000 providers and the nation's patients, industry partners and leading health insurers.