By David Ralph, chief executive, Haven Gateway

EVERY year, the Haven Gateway, together with the CLA (Country Land and Business Association), hosts a business breakfast on the second day of the Suffolk Show. This year we were delighted that the event was sponsored by the accountancy and business advice firm Ensors. With more than 130 people attending on a beautiful morning, it was a glorious place to be.

Our keynote speaker was Guy Smith, a farmer from near Clacton. He has the ability to match an underlying serious message with wit and enthusiasm, and his presentation was immensely entertaining. My own five minutes didn’t come close!

The Haven Gateway’s partnership with the CLA started two years ago with a shared priority to highlight the broadband ‘not spots’ in our area. Suffolk now has a seriously good plan on how we can deliver next generation broadband – but we will have to work even harder to secure the necessary finance. However, I am confident that it will be within months rather than years that we will be effecting delivery.

In his speech, Guy ably illustrated the many common links between South Suffolk and North Essex. Many local farmers who attend the Suffolk Show are from North Essex – and whether it’s agriculture, tourism, coastal erosion, housing growth in our major towns, ports or transport, the coherence of the Haven Gateway remains compelling.

For my two-penneth, I sought to reiterate the need to create jobs through the private sector and, therefore, the need to back our ‘winners’ – ports and logistics; innovation, hi-tech and creative start-ups and small enterprises; tourism and culture; food; and, of course, agriculture.

This subregion has key strengths in these growing and diverse sectors, and as a partnership we are committed to supporting investment in them – including in education and training, to ensure we can deliver the skills they need now and in the future.

As we build our recovery after the economic downturn, the Haven Gateway has some very real competitive advantages, including our proximity to, and historic and flourishing links with, Europe. In parallel, we are taking a central role in a series of European projects – including Dryport, Port Integration and Cruise Gateway – which has secured not only valuable funding but also a higher profile in Europe for the Haven Gateway.

We must continue to build on our strengths. The partnership was originally established to make the most of this area’s position as an international gateway, and in this context we look forward to the completion and official opening of the new deepwater Berths 8 and 9 at the Port of Felixstowe, later this year. An event that will clearly put us on the map – and give us real cause for celebration!