Member Article

LEP leaders discuss plans for European relations

Delegates from across Europe have visited the North East this week to witness the opportunities available to them in the region.

At the ‘North East England in a Global Europe: Ambitions for Growth’ conference, hosted by the North Eastern Local Enterprise Partnership (NE LEP), delegates discussed ways to promote trading between European countries and regional businesses.

The conference was also the first opportunity for the NE LEP to bring together key stakeholders to examine possible working relationships with European partners.

Paul Woolston, Chair of the North Eastern LEP, said: “Building our trade and industry links with Europe is vital if we are to achieve our aims and ambitions for regional economic growth.

“This conference is a unique opportunity for us to come together as a region, to explore best practice and develop those crucial strategic economic relationships with Europe, that will be vital if we are to maximise future growth opportunities.”

Chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, James Ramsbotham believes that Europe is a huge potential market which regional businesses now must make the most of.

He commented: “There is nervousness about what will happen in the Euro, but it still presents an excellent opportunity for UK businesses.

“The culture in Europe makes it easier for us to do business than many other parts of the world, and firms must recognise this.

“We now need to use all of the advantages that we have here in the North East to show European businesses that are looking for opportunities outside of the Eurozone but within Europe that we are the very best place in the world to invest.”

Ted Salmon, Chair of the North East Federation of Small Businesses added:

“As well as the speech by the German Ambassador which emphasised the closeness of Anglo-German business relations; the different workshops, hosted by the four consuls, gave a great practical insight into the real opportunities for North East companies to do business with France, Germany Sweden and Lithuania. It was a really positive conference and one which I hope will be the start of these on an annual basis”

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