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County going Stateside
A group of trade experts has jetted into Lancashire to find out how to sell the county in the United States.
The officials, who represent the UK Trade and Industry (UKTI) department in cities across the Atlantic, came on a fact-finding mission to pinpoint areas where US firms can invest in the UK and vice versa.
Aerospace giant BAE Systems' base in Samlesbury, near Preston and Lancaster University's research centre of excellence were just two of the sites they visited on their tour. The team will fly back out to the States this week with a dossier of information on the key places to pump cash into Lancashire.
Gayle Sellman, the UKTI vice-consul based in the US capital Washington, said: "We are the frontline for UKTI, speaking with US companies which are looking to grow internationally. We try to convince them to invest in the UK and therefore we have to be sure what we are talking about.
"On top of that, we are working constantly with UK firms, like those in Lancashire, which are trying to export to the US - it is all about finding the right partners and pairing them together.
"Lancashire companies have been showcasing the great strengths we have here to us and, when we get back to the States, we will have a real idea of where the strengths are and be able to sell them to firms out there.
"Everything we have seen here has impressed us and I believe there is a massive amount we can do to promote investment."
The visit was organised by the North West Development Agency as part of a two-day regional familiarisation tour of the region, which included visits to sites in Liverpool and Manchester.
Mrs Sellman highlighted the InfoLab21, a new office facility for start-up businesses based at Lancaster University, and the aerospace centre of excellence based at BAE in Samlesbury as two highlights of the tour.
They also met with officials from the North West Aerospace Alliance during a visit to Preston, where they took time to study the UK's newest city, before returning to London from Preston rail station.
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Light rain
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