THE founder of North East engineering business GT Group has been invited by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) to join prime minister David Cameron on a business delegation to Russia.
Geoff Turnbull, founder and chairman of the Peterlee company, will be part of a group of senior British business figures who are travelling to Russia with Cameron this week.
Executives from blue chip firms including BP, Rolls-Royce and the London Stock Exchange will go on the two-day visit which includes meetings with Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin and president Dimitry Medvedev.
GT Group recently received a contract, worth up to £50m, from GAZ Group, Russia’s leading automotive manufacturer to supply exhaust gas control systems and engine brakes for a new range of heavy duty diesel engines to GAZ.
Turnbull said: “GT Group is proud to have been chosen to join the Prime Minister’s Russian trade delegation and to meet influential business and political leaders.
“It will allow GT Group to introduce itself and to discuss issues surrounding trade and business opportunities between our two countries at the highest level. It is of significant magnitude and importance to GT Group to be invited to join such a high powered delegation as it will enable the company to further strengthen its relationships with Russia.”
GT’s portfolio includes the manufacture of specialist equipment to reduce exhaust emissions on heavy duty diesel engines used by HGVs.
The company has an order book which should see it increase its workforce from 300 to 500 in the next three years and its turnover double from £30m to £60m.
