The hundreds of companies which make up Keighley Business Forum are being urged to help regenerate the local economy by adopting a higher profile.

Forum director Iain Copping wants businesses to improve networking and inter-trading and take advantage of the facilities at Keighley Business Development Centre.

Speaking at the forum's latest lunch meeting he said business opportunities among its 400 plus members needed to be maximised.

He said KBF was looking to introduce a member's directory highlighting the vast diversity of products and services available on the doorstep.

"The forum has to promote its members by creating openings and bringing resources into the area. There are more inter-trading opportunities locally than people realise and we are pursuing these with renewed vigour."

He appealed to the business sector to take a more active participation on bodies such as the Single Regeneration Board and the new Regional Innovations Board, adding: "It is important that we get such representation, otherwise we could well be overlooked in this area."

Mr Copping has just returned from a trip to Europe's administrative capital Brussels where he took part in a series of high-profile meetings to identify potential inward investment, funding and partnership opportunities.

His visit included a meeting with representatives from the EC's Information and Communications Directorate, its Education and Training Department and Waste Minimisation hierarchy.

And last week the KFB director flew out to Chicago to represent Bronte County Tourism at America's biggest travel show Pow Wow.

Mr Copping explained: "Pow Wow gives us access to all the major travel and tourism operators in the United States. We are also acting as a point of reference in the whole of the North of England."

It's the organisation's second appearance at the event, which is seen as a further opportunity to build on tourism and travel links currently being developed on the other side of the Atlantic.

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