THE man tasked with saving steelmaking on Teesside last night insisted he was "highly confident" that thousands of workers had a secure future.

Colin Muncie, managing director of the newly-formed Teesside Cast Products (TCP), said independent evidence proved the Redcar steelworks could compete on the international market.

And he revealed to The Northern Echo that as many as ten international companies were courting the new stand-alone division of Anglo-Dutch steel company Corus with a view to a potential joint venture partnership.

If successful, it could mean millions of pounds being invested into making the former British Steel plant a success worldwide.

Mr Muncie, who was appointed to run TCP, which began official operation this week, made his first formal address to stakeholders yesterday.

He said: "I am firmly of the view that the success of this business plan is much more in our hands than before. It is something we can do and we have to do it for the people we represent."

A decision is still pending on whether or not organisations in this region can give TCP a major boost in its bid to sell steel on the international market from 2006.

Approximately £16m is needed to make port and wharf infrastructure at the Redcar site capable of carrying the 3.5 million tonnes of steel to export markets.

At present, it would only be able to move 1.5 million tonnes and would face expensive freight costs moving the rest by rail to ports elsewhere in the country.

Regional development agency One NorthEast and other business organisations have been in discussion with the company to see if a solution can be found to the infrastructure problem.