Ex-CBI boss Lord Digby Jones predicts West Midlands growth

The former CBI director general, Lord Digby Jones, has been speaking about the future of the West Midlands, as manufacturing in the region - once known as the workshop of the world - was marked with a gathering of locally-made products.

The items at The International Centre in Telford included cars from Morgan, MG, Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover as well as vehicles and machinery produced by JCB.

As the economy starts to turn around and experts predict much of the growth will be manufacturing-led, BBC Midlands Today has been looking at what is "Made in the Midlands" in a special programme.

Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary, has said West Midlands manufacturing is important for the whole country.

Lord Digby Jones told BBC Midlands Today presenter Nick Owen that it was "realistic" that the region's growth could be 5% or 6% - double the national average.

He added: "It's done on the back of exporting to emerging markets."

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