THE region has been chosen as the home for a national centre that will increase chemical industry exports.
UK Trade and Investment's (UKTI) National Chemical Sector centre has moved from London to the Wilton International site, on Teesside.
It is led by Keith Stockdale, UKTI's specialist trade advisor for the chemicals and pharmaceuticals sector.
He said: "This new location was chosen because the North-East has one of the largest integrated chemical clusters in Europe, with a significant number of the UK's chemical industries based here in the region, including BASF, Huntsman, Dow and Dupont.
"The Wilton Centre in Tees Valley represents the hub of the process industry's research expertise in the region, with more 600 researchers employed, making it one of the largest concentrations of chemicals research expertise in Europe."
Mr Stockdale said he would be working with companies to promote international trade.
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