£6m deal metal boss in rallying call to firms

An international metal trader based in the Black Country was today celebrating scooping around £6 million of new business after signing overseas contracts with companies in Turkey.

Company managing director and chairman Peter Mathews has brokered the deal after a series of meetings with business chiefs in the country.

The 64-year-old today urged other Black Country firms to go global.

He said that firms would benefit from the move, especially during the tough economic times.

More than 350 workers are employed worldwide by Black Country Metals Ltd, based in Lye, Stourbridge, and its associated companies. "Doing business in Turkey has proved very successful and it could prove very fruitful for the Black Country," he said.

"It is important for businesses in the region to find new markets at the current time and we should be looking to global markets to show just what the Black Country has to offer."

The deal will not directly lead to new jobs in the region at this stage. But Mr Mathews said positions could become available in the long term if more business comes from the deals.

Mr Mathews secured the new business while on a trip last month as part of the UK Trade & Investment's West Midlands Environmental Technologies Cluster visit to Istanbul and Ankara.

"Business needs to fly the flag for the region. We need to look further outside this market to countries abroad for business," he said.