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Praise for region's "world class business status"

The UK’s Trade and Investment Minister was in the North East yesterday to highlight the region’s “world class business status” during a visit which focused on the chemicals and automotive sector. Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham toured three of the region’s leading companies - SABIC UK Petrochemicals, The Tanfield Group Plc and Caterpillar - and met business leaders and officials to discuss the region’s continuing success.

Lord Jones said: “The North East is a region which shows strong business confidence. The companies I have visited today are riding high on optimism with export orders booming. “In my new Ministerial role I will work hard to promote north east firms overseas and attract inward investment into the region. That is why I am here - to meet business and listen first hand to their issues.”

Paul Booth, President of SABIC UK Petrochemicals, said: “We were delighted to have Lord Jones visit us today. He has been an extremely strong supporter and advocate of the manufacturing industry and in particularly chemicals, so it was a pleasure to meet him and let him see first hand some of the exciting developments and significant investments that are currently taking place at Wilton.”

During his visit the Minister also met with industry leaders and representatives from business support services to hear their views and discuss how UK Trade and Investment and other government organisations can work to ensure continued support for the region’s companies.

Ian Williams, Director of Business and Industry at One NorthEast, said: “The automotive and chemicals industries are very important sectors for the North East and are contributors to the success of our economy. “The Minister has seen first-hand just what the region has to offer as we continue to promote the message to businesses both elsewhere in the UK and abroad.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .