A SUPPLY chain consultancy said it could bring millions of pounds-worth of business to the region's economy thanks to an overseas contract.

First Chambers Limited, of Middlesbrough, is working with a Saudi Arabia-based client to source goods and materials from the UK and mainland Europe.

First Chambers supply chain strategist Alan Chambers declined to name the company, but it was one of a handful of trading houses approved by the Saudi government, and specialises in engineering equipment and materials.

He said: "Until now, it has been doing its shopping mainly in the US, but we have been able to demonstrate not only that we can source all of their clients' requirements in the North-East, but we are more than a match in terms of being cost-competitive and responding rapidly to inquiries.

"It is impossible to predict the eventual value of the contract, but the first order we sourced was for three high-specification industrial vehicles with loading capabilities valued at about £150,000 each and, potentially, we are talking about tens of millions of pounds-worth of goods and materials."

Mr Chambers set up First Chambers in 2001 to help companies restructure their purchasing organisations.

Since then, the consultancy has handled a purchasing budget of more than £20m on behalf of clients ranging from leading blue-chip companies to smaller operations, predominantly in the Teesside area.

First Chambers opened an office in Gateshead last year to support its expansion into Tyneside and provide a base for its facilities management operations.