Midlands World Trade Forum Supports Cosford

Councillor Phil Bateman MBE today welcomed the news that the Midlands World Trade Forum representing more than 400 exporting companies in the region was now lining up with their support for Cosford.

Councillor Bateman said today " I attended the board meeting of the Midlands World Trade Forum and the campaign was raised with the Board. I urged support, and I am delighted that such an influential body has thrown their weight fully behind the bid by the West Midlands Region to win this important project.

Chairman Peter Matthews CMG is very influential in his own right and I was very pleased to see his personal enthusiasm spill into the board decision. The organisation is made up of exporting companies spread right across the region.

The aim of the Midlands World Trade Forum (MWTF) is to help companies develop their export performance, by providing a forum through which they can assist each other, access relevant support services, and make their views known on issues affecting international trade.

The Midlands World Trade Forum is sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland and are supported by UK Trade & Investment - the Government organisation that supports both companies in the UK trading internationally and overseas enterprises seeking to locate in the UK.

Cosford is competing with St Athan, in South Wales to host a UK super site for defence training. If Cosford wins the bid, jobs at the site could be doubled, reaching 2,640 by 2010.

Investment into the site is estimated at over £600 million with the average yearly wage bill expected to top £45 million.

The Gross Regional Product (GRP) is expected to rise from £69 million to £113 million by 2010. Real disposable income in the region is forecast to almost double to £45.4 million.

The investment in the new facility at Cosford would provide a Centre of Excellence for the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering (DCAE) and the Defence College of Communications and Information Systems (DCCIS) complementing the strong IT and aerospace industries situated already within the region.

If Cosford does not win the bid, it is predicted that around 1,200 jobs will be lost.A decision on the preferred site is expected to be made by the Autumn 2006."