Top business people are working together to plan a major event which will sell Yorkshire at home and abroad this year.

They are planning the Yorkshire International Business Conference which will take place at Harewood House in Leeds between June 10 and 11.

A new partnership has been formed between members of the Yorkshire Initiative and Sinclair Mason to harness the success of the previous three years and to take the conference forward into the Millennium on an international scale.

The Yorkshire International Business Conference is the only business forum of its kind in Europe and the most high profile event in the region.

Since 1995, the conference has been attended by some 2,000 businessmen and women from around Yorkshire, the rest of the UK, and overseas.

The event was not held last year when it was decided to hold the next event this year.

Each year the event attracts world class speakers such as FW de Klerk, Robert Kennedy Jnr, and Henry Kissinger, and offers a host of networking and corporate hospitality opportunities to companies across Europe, that have connections with Yorkshire.

Graham Hall, chairman designate Regional Development Agency for Yorkshire and the Humber and chairman of the CBI Council for Yorkshire and Humber said: "Yorkshire has an outstanding package to offer business investors.

"Our communications network, both physical and electronic, is world class; the skills of our workforce are second to none. We have access to European markets, via the Humber ports, unrivalled in the UK.

"We have a thriving cultural, sporting and artistic scene, which is essential for any company wanting to attract staff to the region; and we have a rural environment, close to major conurbations, which simple takes people's breath away.

"The North of England conjures up strong images of textile mills and coal mines.

"We are proud of our heritage and today's Yorkshire has built on its traditions and now boasts highly efficient steel manufacturers, telephone bankers, software developers and retailers such as Harvey Nichols, plus financial and legal services second only to London.

"We operate a highly competitive, global environment and must let the world know who we are, where we are and what we can offer. The 1999 event will meet those objectives and promises to be the finest show piece for Yorkshire and Humberside."

Richard Gregory, chairman of Yorkshire Initiative, added: "This event plays a key part in the efforts of the Yorkshire Initiative to promote the region.

"Mike Firth's visionary concept warranted more support and greater resources to enable us to progress it successfully.."

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