A COMPANY based on the site that gave birth to the Teesside chemical industry could create a number of new North-East jobs in deals worth more than £2m, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Chemoxy International Limited, in Middlesbrough, says it working on “significant” specialist chemical projects with Indian firms.

The company, which currently employs about 100 workers, said if successful, the contracts would continue its recent expansion and would mean new jobs at its sister plant in Billingham.

It supplies bespoke processing for international chemical companies, environmentally-friendly solvents for use in paints and cleaning products, and chemicals for the pharmaceutical, electronic and fuel additive industries.

Chemoxy's All Saints refinery site, in Cargo Fleet Road, Middlesbrough, occupies the spot, where, in 1869, industralist Samuel Sadler founded a tar distillery starting the region's chemical process industry.

Ian Stark, Chemoxy managing director, said he couldn't reveal details of the projects owing to their sensitive nature, but confirmed an Indian delegate would be visiting in the next few days to push the plans forward.

Mr Stark, who led a buyout of Dow Chemical's with Martyn Bainbridge in 2011, last week visited India on a trade mission organised by the North-East Process Industry Cluster (Nepic) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), which included a two-day conference with the Indian Chemical Council.

He said: “The projects are in the specialist chemical arena and would be a perfect fit for Billingham, which we are looking to expand.

“The trip was really fruitful and identified two significant and tangible projects, which if successful, will deliver in excess of £2m in revenue.”

“It would mean more jobs on top of 15 we are creating through Government regional growth funding.

“Since we took over, we have already increased capacity by 20 per cent and increased staff numbers from 79 people to more than 100, and 2013 looks like it will be another good year for the business.”

Stan Higgins, Nepic chief executive, said he was delighted with the success of the Indian visit.

He said: “The feedback from participants has been excellent and we must encourage more business to get involved to grow their markets.

“This is where the action is, Nepic has been building access to India for many years and it is up to businesses to take advantage.”