"A GREAT honour for me and for the company" was how Geoff Turnbull, chairman of GT Group described the recent invitation he accepted to be the North's representative on a high powered trade mission to Russia.

Russo-British business and diplomatic relations have been frosty of late. Before the trip led by David Cemreron it had been three years since a British Prime Minister had direct contact with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Peterlee-based GT, however, has been making inroads into one of the world's fastest growing economies for a while. Its dogged efforts to foster strong business relations in the territory paid off recently when it agreed a 50m deal with GAZ Group, Russias leading automotive manufacturer. That success looks set to continue.

GT will shortly add a fluent Russian speaker who has been studying at a university in the North-East to their rapidly expanding workforce. The new recruit will help with the fine print of a number of upcoming deals with Russia companies that look set to secure the firm's success in overseas markets. "The Germans, French and in particular the Italians have been very active in Russia. We cannot sit back and let them steal a march on us.

"In Russia their engines are about five years behind us in Western Europe in terms of controlling emissions. You are reminded how clean the air has become in our cities when you go to Russia. We will help them on their journey toward cleaning things up."

Spotting and seizing upon opportunities in territories across the globe has become a trademark of GT Group which has shown dramatic growth in recent years. Its £30m per year turnover is expected to rise to more than £50m in the next three years.

"Exports have been the key for us," explains Mr Turnbull whose business ships specialist parts such as exhaust gas control valves to the motor, oil, gas and petrochemical industries in more than 60 countries. "Some people have been put off by the stories you hear about corruption and sharp practice when you are dealing with Russian business. I can say hand on heart that in all of the negotiations we have had the Russian people could not have been more courteous or honest. In fact they had us on the back foot when we grilled them recently about the problem of corruption in their country. They asked - was it not true that British MPs had been found making exorbitant expenses claims and that one of our national newspapers had tapped into the phones of members of the public? We couldn't really answer that."

Such frank discussions clearly suit Mr Turnbull who remains firmly rooted in the North-East despite his regular jaunts to the four corners of the globe.

"This is a fantastic area. The traditional skills we can draw upon from the towns and villages around east Durham are second to none. The mining heritage of this part of the world has stood this business in good stead. Some of my best engineers have come out of the collieries.

"We are starting new people on a weekly basis but I did a calculation last month and found an amazing statistic that we have 3,000 years-worth of service between our 300 staff. How many companies can offer that? Another two of them are getting their 25 years service next week.

"It's essential to have the right people. Knowing that allows me to go anywhere in the world and sell what we have to offer with full confidence."