The North East’s global trade, inward investment and export potential has been showcased as part of an international delegation that welcomed the Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey, Chris Gaunt OBE, to the region.
Mr Gaunt was welcomed to the North East by business leaders Ammar Mirza CBE, Imran Khaliq (Gainford Group) and Mike Clark (Dysart Developments), as part of ongoing discussions to enhance and shape bi-lateral opportunities as well as strategic collaborations moving forward. Finishing the afternoon, Mr Gaunt was hosted by the Gainford Group at the Vermont Hotel in Newcastle where a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Chamber of Commerce in Turkey and the SME Centre of Excellence, to formalise the partnership and cooperation between the two regions.
Championing North East businesses across a diverse range of sectors, the reception discussed potential inward investment, job creation and emerging markets and industries as well as the proposed, multi-million pound ‘International Space Station’, a dedicated, centre of excellence ‘trade hub’ soon to be constructed at AirView Park.
The new 10,200 sq ft office development, next to Newcastle International Airport, will help SMEs launch, scale up and take advantage of export routes whilst also supporting in-bound trade from overseas.
Ammar Mirza CBE, explained, “We are very much looking ahead with great positivity and optimism, and visits such as this one with the Chairman present a fantastic opportunity to cement those working relationships further and build back stronger together.
“By opening up new collaborative opportunities between the North East, Turkey and other overseas nations, we can take huge advantage of the export links right here on our doorstep and proactively drive forward our region’s recovery and growth.
“It was an honour to welcome Mr Gaunt to the region. I’m certain this will become the foundation for more mutually-beneficial discussions and new trade partnerships with local and overseas businesses in the future.”
Editor’s notes:
AirView Park is a commercial property development by Tynexe Commercial Ltd, a private limited company owned by Dysart Developments Limited and Newcastle City Council. The company was originally formed to deliver regeneration projects in the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne and has gone on to develop high quality residential, commercial and mixed-use regeneration schemes across the City. This includes Armstrong Industrial Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, the Newcastle Eagles Stadium and an 84-unit social housing scheme for Home Group.
Dysart Developments Ltd is one of the North East of England’s most successful property developers, delivering land, residential, commercial and mixed-use retail/leisure schemes across the region for over 35 years. The company’s portfolio includes retail developments such as Asda Superstore in Blyth, Northumberland, and Tesco Superstore in Consett, County Durham, high quality residential schemes including Chase Farm, a 1,000-unit housing development in Blyth, Northumberland, as well as commercial/industrial property developments such as the restoration of Tynemouth Station, a historic, grade II-listed railway building, Newcastle Business Park, home to organisations including British Airways and The AA, the Science Centre on behalf of Durham University, and the redevelopment of Derwentside College, an 800-acre regeneration scheme known as the Genesis Project in County Durham (including the regeneration of the former Consett Steelworks site).
Current and future developments include a 500-unit housing scheme in County Durham, the redevelopment of a former bus station into retail space and luxury residential properties in Hexham town centre, and a 100-hectare, mixed use retail/leisure scheme in South East Northumberland.
SME Centre of Excellence provides business support to SMEs across the country through tailored support packages and recommendations. With a network of specialists and experts, the SME Centre of Excellence seeks to provide all business owners with the right support at the right time to help them start, survive and thrive.
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