North East deal links UK trade centre with Iraq & MENA

ISS Group and VisionAID have signed a strategic partnership linking North East England with Iraq and the wider MENA region. The agreement focuses on trade, investment, education and innovation.

It is centred on ISS Airview at Newcastle International Airport, which ISS Group describes as the UK's first dedicated International Trade Centre, alongside the company's logistics and freeport-related operations in the region.

The arrangement is intended to create a two-way route for businesses, universities, investors and public bodies. For organisations in Iraq and the wider Middle East and North Africa, it offers a UK base with support for market entry, workspace, logistics and professional connections. For North East organisations, it provides a route into Iraq and neighbouring markets through VisionAID's regional network and local knowledge.

The move adds an international dimension to efforts to position the North East as a destination for inward investment. It also reflects growing competition among UK regions to attract overseas business by combining transport links, specialist industries, universities and business support into a single offer.

Three areas

The work will focus on three areas: education, enterprise and trade, and innovation. In education, the partners plan to link learning more closely with economic activity through entrepreneurship programmes, leadership development, employability support, accredited learning, and collaboration between institutions and industry.

On the commercial side, the partnership is expected to cover export readiness, inward investment, market-entry support, logistics and longer-term business relationships. Innovation work is set to include digital transformation, artificial intelligence, support for smaller companies, research commercialisation and practical responses to economic and social challenges in the region.

ISS Group said the delivery model will draw on its 3IP framework of Innovation, Investment and Internationalisation. It also pointed to organisations in its wider network, including Yohlar, the SME Centre of Excellence and IoEE International.

VisionAID's role will centre on international development, institutional strengthening, stakeholder engagement and programme delivery across Iraq and the wider MENA region. That includes helping to identify partners and opportunities both sides consider credible for commercial and institutional work.

North East platform

The agreement places Newcastle and the surrounding region at the centre of the plan. ISS Group argues that the North East offers a combination of airport access, ports, freeport-linked infrastructure, universities and sector expertise that makes it a suitable landing point for international organisations entering the UK.

The model goes beyond export promotion alone. The partners want to connect early-stage discussions to operational activity, including investment, educational partnerships, business development and logistics.

Initial work is expected to concentrate on priority sectors and pilot programmes. Areas identified for possible collaboration include advanced manufacturing, energy, logistics, digital technology, education, professional services, enterprise development and innovation.

Ammar Mirza CBE, Executive Chair of ISS Group, said: "This partnership creates a direct and practical bridge between the whole of the North East, Iraq and the wider MENA region.

"Our region has the infrastructure, talent, businesses and ambition to play a far greater role in international trade. Through ISS Airview, ISS Logistics, ISS Freeports and our wider platform, we can provide international organisations with a credible UK base and give North East businesses stronger routes into high-potential overseas markets.

"VisionAID brings the regional knowledge, relationships and development experience needed to ensure those routes are relevant, trusted and capable of producing meaningful results.

"Our 3IP Model brings together Innovation, Investment and Internationalisation through People, Place and Programmes. It allows us to support the complete journey from education and enterprise development through to investment, market entry, logistics and international scale.

"This is not about signing an agreement that simply sits on a shelf. It is about converting relationships into trade, investment, jobs, skills, partnerships and measurable impact."

Regional access

For VisionAID, the arrangement provides a formal route into a UK business ecosystem while giving North East organisations access to institutional relationships in Iraq and the wider MENA region. The organisation focuses on economic and social development and works across areas including enterprise, education, skills and international partnerships.

Professor Dr Mohammed Ahmed, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VisionAID, said: "Iraq and the wider MENA region possess enormous talent, ambition and economic potential.

"VisionAID's ambition is to help unlock that potential by strengthening institutions, developing people, supporting enterprise and creating credible international partnerships.

"The relationship with ISS Group gives businesses, universities, investors and public bodies across our region access to a unique UK platform that brings together trade, logistics, education, innovation and investment.

"At the same time, VisionAID can provide North East organisations with trusted regional insight, stakeholder relationships and practical support as they explore opportunities across Iraq and MENA.

"This is a partnership founded on shared values but focused firmly on delivery. We want to create opportunities that are commercially sustainable, socially inclusive and capable of producing long-term value for both regions."

The arrangement underlines how regional trade initiatives are increasingly being framed around wider economic links rather than the movement of goods alone. In this case, the partners aim to combine commercial activity with education, skills and institutional cooperation through a platform anchored in the North East.