THE twain does meet between east and west, is the message of Iain Dale, the Malton-based tycoon appointed by the Department of Trade and Industry as Yorkshire's only Ambassador for British Business.

He plugged that missive yesterday when addressing Bangladeshi businessmen in the House of Lords on trade and industrial relationships with the UK.

Mr Dale who founded then sold the huge Dale Electric generator factory in Scarborough, chairs the British government's Southern Asian Advisory Group and last year visited Dhaka and Chittagong in Bangladesh.

After being introduced to the gathering at the House of Lords by AH Mahmood Ali, the High Commissioner for Bangladesh, Mr Dale emphasised the need for British companies to look at investment in their country which has a skilled, low-cost workforce.

He also stressed the growing need to equip Bangladesh factories. As wealth spread there would be opportunities for more up-market products which British companies could supply.

He told them: "Bangladeshi businesses do well in the UK. I hope that they will show leadership in helping UK firms into the market.

"Britain has special links with Bangladesh. We need to activate those links to positive and permanent effect"