THE NORTH East Process Industry Cluster (NEPIC) has extended its reach into one of the most important chemical processing regions in the world.

It signed a memorandum of understanding with the Pernambuco region of north east Brazil, where billions of dollars of inward investment, backed by the federal government, has moved the 8.5m inhabitants from an economy based on sugar cane to one fuelled by oil.

Following an exploratory visit with UKTI and One North East in the spring, it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a top-level Brazilian delegation, led by the state’s secretary of economic development, Fernando Bezerra Coelho.

The MOU, which followed similar partnership agreements with regions of India and Europe, was evidence of NEPIC’s growing role in trade development, said chief executive Stan Higgins.

Mr Higgins said: “We have moved from internal issues like productivity and improving skills locally to identifying international opportunities for the cluster.

“By doing that we hope to improve inward investment opportunities and trade for our indigenous companies.”

He said the North East had a number of synergies with Pernambuco, including port and ship building industries which were also seeing significant investment.

“They are interested in acquiring skills and development. This is about using our knowledge economy to help other countries grow,” he added.