FRESH links are being forged between Yorkshire and Australia in an effort to showcase what cities such as York have to offer potential investors.

As the world's attention turns to the build-up to the London Olympics in 2012, an agreement has been signed between our region and Queensland to maximise the opportunities offered by the Games.

The move has been backed by York MP Hugh Bayley, who said: "I welcome anything which will draw new business partners and investment to York."

The Statement Of Intent was signed by Yorkshire Forward chairman, Terry Hodgkinson, and Queensland Premier and Minister For Trade, Peter Beattie, on Friday.

The two regions have agreed to work together to develop trade links in both sporting arenas and beyond.

York has already attracted major new investment from Australia's GHD Ppty Ltd to York Science Park, and it is hoped more will follow through the new partnership.

GHD is ranked in the world's top 30 engineering and architecture companies with a turnover of AUD 500 million and more than 4,500 employees across the globe. The company has been involved in projects ranging from infrastructure management for the Sydney Olympics to master planning for one of the world's largest man-made islands, Palm Jebel Ali, near Dubai.

Mr Bayley was confident York would benefit from the 2012 Olympics. He said: "York should seek investment in the fields in which we already have a world-beating reputation such as bio-science, tourism, heritage and information technology.

"Both small and big businesses can benefit from international links."

City of York Council leader Steve Galloway said: "Anything that allows us to understand more clearly what would bring more employment and investment to York is to be welcomed.

"Companies like GHD are very much the future of the city of York."

But he admitted: "The jury is still out as to how far the influence of the 2012 Olympics will actually spread through the country."

As part of the partnership, research will be done to asses how Australia's Gold Coast benefited from the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

As Queensland is a similar distance to Sydney as Yorkshire is to London, the findings will help show the potential opportunities here before 2012.

Mr Hodgkinson said: "Yorkshire and Humber is developing a sound reputation for delivering major cultural and sporting events, and has been a strong supporter of London's Olympic bid."

He said the partnership would enable Yorkshire Forward to put more weight behind its commitment to ensuring regional businesses in key cities like York are able to benefit from the Games and develop long-lasting links with the region.

Mr Beattie said: "Working together with Yorkshire is a great way to build business."