Wigan could soon be home to the European headquarters of numerous Chinese companies now that a proposal to create a £125 million textile manufacturing centre at Westwood Park has been agreed.
A trading agreement between Wigan and China means that the 55-acre site in the west Manchester borough will be the largest clothing and textile industry hub in Europe.
It is thought that the deal will lead to more than 3,000 spin-off industries and 1,000 jobs. Increased demand for office, hotel, and research and development facilities is also expected.
Mark Hughes, executive director for enterprise at the Northwest Regional Development Agency, said: "A textile hub of this size in the northwest ... could lead to the creation of a significant number of jobs and investment into Wigan.
"This is an exciting proposal that could further strengthen both our trade and inward investment links to this important market."
In 2006, the northwest exported more than £360 million worth of goods to China, while in the 2006-07 financial year, the region secured 17 investments from Chinese companies.
In January, the prime minister flew to China to strengthen market links between the UK and China, and to boost bilateral trade to £30 billion by the end of the decade.
