THE North East chemicals industry has combat rising competition from its rivals in Europe and the US by funding a trade mission from one of the world's fastest growing economies.

Twelve businesses, including Sembcorp, PD Ports, IChemE and the Wilton Centre, have paid about £2,000 each to fund a visit to the region by a group of high-ranking Indian business leaders. If successful, this week's trade mission, which incorporated a behind-the-scenes tour of the Teesside chemical processing industry, will lead to major inward investment from the subcontinent.

The Northern Echo understands that one of the Indian delegates has already started talks with a Tees Valley supplier about a potential contract in the hydrogen sector.

The week-long mission was the brainchild of Dr Stan Higgins, chief executive of NEPIC, the cluster organisation which represents the region's process industry. Concerns that Dutch, German and American firms were jeopardising potential investment into the UK led Dr Higgins to invite delegates from the Indian Chemical Council to see for themselves the state of the art technologies which are maintaining the North-East's proud tradition in the process sector.

"This week is about increasing trade and investment both here and in India," said Dr Higgins. "We are counteracting the message, that some of our European competitors have been happy to put about, that nobody in the UK makes chemicals any more. They are talking rubbish. We are still the fourth biggest chemical manufacturers in Europe and this region has a great deal of expertise supported by a supply chain which is second to none.

"The key thing we are doing is selling the region, its capabilities and its infrastructure to people who are thousands of miles away and could be tempted to invest elsewhere in the world." Dr Higgins believes that the decision last month (AUGUST) to award the Tees Valley enterprise zone status will boost its bid for overseas investment, as it offers companies incentives to invest here rather than take their money elsewhere.

The mission culminates today (Friday September 2) with a meet the buyer event at the Wilton Centre where more than 40 North-East companies will have the chance to forge stronger links with their Indian counterparts. The event is supported by UK Trade & Investment, but Dr Higgins explained why it was vital for the industry to grasp the initiative rather than to rely on Government help.

"A lot of technical input is required if you hope to persuade people to make investment decisions in our sector. This is not the sort of thing that generalists, such as civil servants or MPs, can do. It has to be technical people talking to technical people. Only then do the pieces of the jigsaw drop into place and investment can happen."