Business leaders in the region will welcome a delegation from the Far East next month.

Delegates from Malaysia, led by the country's high commissioner, Dato' Abd Aziz Mohammed, will tour the region forging links between the two countries.

Geoff Young, UK Trade and Investment's senior international trade advisor at Business Link County Durham, said there were many opportunities for North-East companies to do business in Malaysia and the South-East Asia region.

"The visit offers the delegation an ideal opportunity to find out more about our region and what we have to offer, while at the same time allowing local companies to meet delegates, learn more about the business opportunities in Malaysia and forge new relationships," he said.

During their four-day stay, the delegates will tour County Durham's North East Technology Park (NetPark), at Sedgefield, the East Durham Business Service, the universities of Northumbria and NewcastleN and the New and Renewable Energy Centre, at Blyth, in Northumberland.

Delegates will learn more about the work of Renew Tees Valley, which promotes the Tees Valley as a centre for renewable energy, and visit members of the North-East Process Industries Cluster, at Sunderland.

A Malaysian Business Forum event will also be held at the Stadium of Light, in Sunderland, on September 21, where companies can find out more about trade and investment opportunities in Malaysia.

For information about the events, call 0845 0505054 or visit www.exportnortheast.com