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CBI
CHIEF BACKS SEEDA ON REGENERATION
"Making a big difference" to business and the quality of life
in the South East is how the Director General of the Confederation
of British Industry (CBI), Digby Jones CBE, described the South
East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
Visiting the SEEDA regeneration project at Chatham Maritime
in North Kent, the CBI chief said he was "a huge fan of Regional
Development Agencies" and rejected the criticism that they were
"just another layer of bureaucracy." SEEDA, he believed, was
"key to delivering quality regeneration in the South East."
"Since
Explaining that his visit to Chatham Maritime had "made a huge
impact" on his views by showing regeneration in action, Mr Jones
praised SEEDA and Medway Council for their "forward-looking
approach". Medway, he said, was "an undiscovered jewel in the
South East's crown."
He
also argued for SEEDA to be more vigorous in espousing the South
East's strengths and its own role in boosting economic development,
pledging that the CBI would give its support to any campaign
to promote the region. The European connection was of vital
importance, he added, as Kent and Medway were the "route ways"
linking the UK and Continental Europe.
During
Mr Jones's visit to Chatham Maritime - the largest Government
supported regeneration project outside London - he met SEEDA's
Director of Regeneration & Infrastructure, Paul Hudson; Chatham
Maritime Project Director, Justin Elcombe; Medway Council's
Head of Economic Development & Tourism, Marc Hume; and the Leader
of the Majority Group on Medway Council, Cllr Rodney Chambers,
as well as representatives of local businesses.
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