New Freeport could be coming to East coast

A new global hub for trade in the form of a new Freeport could be coming to the East Coast.

Plans have been laid out for the Freeport, focusing on the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich, to be a hub linking UK importers and exporters with suppliers.

George Kieffer, Chairman of the Project Board, said: “I am excited to be leading such a professional and expert team to drive forward a bid that will attract major investment and lead to increased economic prosperity not only locally, but nationally.

“The area is home to some of the most deprived wards in the UK and by bringing lasting regeneration and creating new job opportunities to the region the project will support the government’s levelling-up agenda.

“We look forward to working with universities in the region to make Freeport East a hotbed of innovation in the technologies of the 21st Century.”

Clemence Cheng, Executive Director of Hutchison Ports and Managing Director of Hutchison Ports Europe, added: “The combination of the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich offers the UK a unique opportunity in the post-Brexit world, sitting as they do at the main junction point between the UK's principal trade route to and from the Far East and key freight links to and from northern Europe.

“Together with the leading edge technical skills that come with the partnership with universities, including the University of Cambridge, this combination can serve as a powerful magnet to bring new investment into the UK and in particular to the area around this unique junction point.”

Councillor Mary Newton, Tendring District Council Cabinet Member for Business and Economic Growth, said: “A Freeport including Harwich has huge potential to enrich the lives of local residents – across the district – by creating plentiful job opportunities and establishing it as a centre for investment for global firms.”