Nissan and the company hoping to set up a 3,000-job gigafactory are among 40 organisations that are urging Chancellor Rishi Sunak to approve a freeport in the North East.
The North East wants to set up a 'virtual freeport' across ports on the Tyne and in Blyth and Sunderland, as well as at Newcastle International Airport, the Nissan plant at Sunderland and the adjoining International Advanced Manufacturing Park.
Now 40 organisations - including North East England Chamber of Commerce and the North East Automotive Alliance, plus councils, universities and professional groups - have signed a letter which says that the freeport would “support export-focused growth to the tune of £2.1bn” and “drive innovation, boost trade and deliver growth in our world-leading clean energy, advanced manufacturing and automotive clusters”.
Britishvolt – the company that is aiming to set up a 3,000-job electric battery gigafactory close to the Port of Blyth – has also signed the letter, saying that the bid would boost its plans.
The wide-ranging organisations backing the freeports bid say that the project would create 13,000 higher skilled jobs and support the Government’s plans to regenerate former industrial areas in the North, as well as the move to a low carbon economy.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak could announce the first areas to get freeport status in this week’s Budget, but the North East faces high levels of competition from coastal areas around the country, including the Tees Valley.
The letter to Mr Sunak says: “A number of North East England freeport sites are located in some of the region’s most deprived areas, still scarred from previous industrial change.
“The freeport will re-ignite these communities, stimulating £2.7bn private and public sector investment, creating new green jobs and employability programmes to ensure these jobs are accessible to local people. Of these new roles, 13,000 will be in higher skilled ‘better’ jobs.
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“Innovation, renewable energy and green technology are at the heart of the bid. A digitally-enabled customs solution will facilitate the movement of goods between the freeport sites and, along with other measures, will reduce the risk of displacement that would be created by a single site proposition.”
The North East freeport bid says it would create more than 60,000 jobs and boost the region’s economy by more than £3.4bn.
It has been reported that at least 30 海角视频 ports and airports are considering bids to become freeports, competing for “at least 10” slots.
But critics argue that the areas – where companies can argue independent of import charges – encourage tax avoidance and money laundering and don’t actually create jobs but simply switch them from other areas.