BUSINESS leaders hope York Wasps' new link with New York may bring spin-off benefits to York's commercial community.

The Evening Press reported last night how the New York Economic Development Council was to become York Rugby League Club's main sponsor for 2002.

The club said the council was fully committed to developing an ongoing relationship with the business community in York. Now Paul Murphy, chief executive of the York Inward investment Board, says he hopes the sponsorship deal could assist him in his efforts to attract more investment from America.

And Roland Harris, chief executive of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, also says the arrangement could help maintain the growth in the number of U.S. companies in York.

"The number of American companies in the area now comes to more than 30, from big companies such as Thrall, to smaller IT and bio-science companies," he said.

"We would expect to see that growth continuing, and we would welcome this initiative and wish it every success."

Mr Murphy said the board had sought before to build on the links between New York and old York as it worked to encourage American inward investment in the city.

The new sponsorship deal could give such efforts a whole new impetus, lending opportunities for further contact with the business community in New York.

"This is handing something on a plate, and I shall be getting in touch with the club to see how the board might be able to capitalise on the potential benefits to York."

Updated: 12:54 Wednesday, September 19, 2001