Global path to growth in the economy.

THE Go Global campaign is being launched today to help transform the North East economy by encouraging its companies to look further afield.

Despite being the only region in the country to maintain a positive trade balance, the North East still fails to match others when it comes to exports.

Trading in new markets abroad must be a daunting affair for novices, who may fear they'll hit barriers that prove difficult to work round or worse, falling victim to expensive failures.

The Go Global campaign, however, will see the North East Chamber of Commerce working with The Journal to help guide newcomers from this region to lucrative successes.

By its very nature, that means new outlets being established and new partnerships being created.

Yet, at the same time, this is well travelled territory whose contours and terrain are familiar to many generations of traders from this region.

Drawing on the knowledge gained by successful exporters and building on the experience of the long line of North East traders who've done good business abroad, firms new to this market will grow in confidence.

And as their products and knowledge win new customers, the region's economy recovery will benefit from the growth their success brings.