NEW Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) yesterday published a strategy to help businesses in nine key sectors of the regional economy to grow and create jobs.

The new document highlights the strengths of Suffolk and Norfolk in sectors including energy, ports and logistics, life sciences and biotechnology and information and communications technology, and also identifies a range of opportunities to increase employment and support business growth.

Other sectors identified as offering major growth potential include food, drink and agriculture, tourism, advanced manufacturing, financial services and the digital and cultural creative industries

Together, the nine sectors account for 37% of employment in the two counties, representing a total of 236,916 jobs at 19,988 businesses.Measures proposed include supporting supply chain development in the energy sector, improving skills provision in agriculture, promoting a life sciences triangle linking Norwich, Cambridge and Ipswich, and encouraging more cluster development and pilot innovation in advanced manufacturing.

Andy Wood, chairman of the New Anglia LEP, said: “We are fortunate in our part of the country to have some really strong concentrations of nationally and internationally competitive sectors.

“From ICT to life sciences, from tourism to energy, we are strong in sectors with real future potential. The role of the LEP is to act as a catalyst and help turn this potential into new businesses and jobs.

“The role of our sector groups is to work together to identify and grasp the opportunities and tackle the barriers to growth. This strategy has been developed with key individuals from these sectors and will act as a real stimulus to growing jobs and opportunities.”

The sector growth strategy will form part of New Anglia’s wider Plan for Growth which will be published in the spring and provide a comprehensive plan for developing the economy of Suffolk and Norfolk.