DOMINIC Jermey, the new chief executive of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), has made his first visit to the North-East since his appointment in June.

He stressed there would be an increased emphasis on more collaboration across government with the private sector, in a bid to ensure its ambitious targets for increased exports and Foreign Direct Investment are met.

Mr Jermey joined from the UAE, where he was British Ambassador for four years. He was previously managing director of UKTI’s Sectors Group for three years, helping 11,000 UK companies to do business around the world, and was acting chief executive in 2009.

The government wants to double exports to £1 trillion and to double foreign direct investment in the UK to £1.5 trillion, all by 2020.

Mr Jermey said: “This is no mean feat. Getting there will need the energy and creativity of all of us, it will need different ways of working both in government and within the business community.

“The North-East has an enormous part to play. There are already many outstanding examples of North-East firms of all sizes that have taken the leap and found new markets overseas.

“Latest statistics show that more than £11.7bn worth of goods were exported from the region in the 12 months to the end of March 2014, while there have been 54 inward investment projects that have created or safeguarded more than 2,500 jobs,” he said.