Many of the region's most influential and active business leaders believe regional government will boost the North-East economy.

Every company in the North East Marine and Offshore Consortium, for instance, backs a regional assembly and the need for change.

Swan Hunter's Jaap Kroese believes an assembly will be a confident voice to speak out on behalf of the region's industries.

New technology business leaders such as Bob Coxon believe more regionally-based decision-making over skills and training is the way forward.

These are only two names among a host of forward-thinking business people who reckon an assembly is a good investment for the future.

They have seen Wales create more than 100,000 jobs since devolution in 1999 because investors perceive a coherent and business-like region.

The Welsh have energised their development agencies and cut bureaucracy. The North-East can do the same, because an assembly will take over the running of One NorthEast and its £400m regeneration and inward investment budget.

Unless our region has a strong voice and clear leadership, we will not be able to compete with Scotland, Wales and London.

In global competition, investors look for confident and competent regions. What message will it send to the rest of the world if we turn down the opportunity to take more responsibility for the way we run our corner of Britain?

A regional assembly is our opportunity to modernise and streamline the way we govern ourselves.

It is not about more politicians or more bureaucracy - there will be fewer and less. A regional assembly is about accepting the offer of controlling more of our own destiny - we should embrace it with optimism and not negativity.

* Ross Forbes is campaign director at Yes 4 the northeast.