THE Government’s recently-announced industrial strategy is an important opportunity for all our businesses to really state their views about the proposals for the best way forward for our region and country.

I was pleased the voice of business was put at the heart of the thinking behind this Green Paper, with a ‘sector deal’ approach.

But it must not become too focused on individual sectors and locations to the detriment of our diverse region.

We obviously welcomed the news about the International Advanced Manufacturing Park investment that accompanied the strategy announcement, which will surely reap rewards around the whole region, where we have a wealth of expertise in supply-chain businesses such as Ecco Finishing Supplies, Omega Plastics and Nifco.

This funding was a perfect case of how success can be built on a region’s strengths to drive growth, create new jobs and at the same time attract new businesses to the area.

We see this whole strategy as an opportunity to make the region into much more of an economic asset for the whole country.

The time is ripe for us to punch above our weight.

As our manifesto states, we just need support to reach our potential, in particular with projects such as the carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative and the possible industrial CCS network in Tees Valley.

This has the potential to lower industrial emissions, enhance the competitiveness of key industries and develop a competitive location to invest in new plants.

We need the industrial strategy to give us flexibility to support local growth in these types of projects and give us the right investment in infrastructure and skills to meet business needs.

We also need the right support in place to enable companies to export and reach the best skilled talent overseas.

The North-East is a diverse region, with strengths stretching from the automotive sector, to renewable energy and from life sciences to the digital and creative industries.

Middlesbrough, for example, is becoming an increasingly popular base for creative entrepreneurs, such as Viral Effect, who have firm roots in the area.

The Government’s aim is to improve living standards and economic growth by increasing productivity and driving growth across the whole country.

It wants to have views on skills, research, infrastructure and drive long-term growth in productivity.

Let’s tell them what we think.

Get in touch with the chamber through our website or our social media to have your say.

James Ramsbotham is chief executive at the North East England Chamber of Commerce