DAVID Cameron has urged Asian firms to pump money into the North of England, but the government's first overseas trade mission to promote the so-called 'Northern Powerhouse' has been dominated by delegates from Manchester and the North West.

Of the 62 organisations exploring business opportunities in South East Asia, led by Mr Cameron and Business Secretary Sajid Javid, 37 are from the North West but only 5 are from the North-East.

Business Editor Andy Richardson voices concerns about Manchester's dominance over the northern powerhouse 

City leaders from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Manchester City Council and Leeds City Council are on the four-day trip alongside a high powered collective of North West industry, education and transport chiefs.

No North-East local authority or city leaders are among the delegation to forge closer links with some of the world's fastest-growing economies.

Flying the flag for the region are Newcastle University, the NECC, North Shields marine firm John Lilley & Gillie Ltd, and County Durham training organisations NCFE and Learning Curve Group.

In August last year the Government was accused of delivering a similar snub to the North-East after the region's bosses were denied seats on a key trade trip to India. It followed a landmark trade mission to China when the Government failed to invite any representatives from the North-East.  

This week's trip comes as Malaysian rubber company Petra Group announced that 90 jobs will be created in the North-East as part of a £12m investment. The company plans to develop a rubber recycling factory at a location still to be confirmed.

Speaking at Unilever's base in Singapore, Mr Cameron told potential investors: "I really would encourage you to look at Britain in a new way. There's plenty of investment opportunities, of course, in London and the South East - London, this amazing global city - but look again at the North."

Mr Cameron pointed out that Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles was a "Yorkshireman by blood" as he attempted to woo local investors.

"We want to rebalance our country and we want Singaporean and other south-east Asian investors to help us do it. That is what the Northern Powerhouse is all about," he said.

Mr Cameron added: "From the North Sea to the Singapore Strait, let's get more trade flowing."

He said: "Everyone in south-east Asia has heard of London and is investing in London, but I want us to rebalance our economy and see more investment into the great cities of the north of England like Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool and Newcastle."

In addition, Mr Cameron used the trip to promote the success of Nissan's Sunderland car factory to Asian business leaders, who were told that the plant makes more cars in a year than the entire output of Italy's car industry.