KEY players in a bold bid to put Inverclyde right at the heart of a business and jobs-boosting regional freeport are confident that it will see off rival competition.

The Tele reported in April how Inverclyde was at the forefront of a push to secure green freeport status, with normal tax and tariff rules not in force.

Peel Ports' container base at Greenock Ocean Terminal is at the heart of the application and if it is successful then goods could be imported, manufactured and re-exported without being subject to checks, paperwork, or import taxes.

The multi-billion pound push for the sea, air and rail economic zone along the River Clyde, backed by a unique public private partnership, is now being finalised.

Council leader Stephen McCabe says he is excited by the bid and its prospects of paying off.

Mr McCabe said: "An ambitious bid of this scale covering multiple sites across the west of Scotland can only be delivered through close co-operation and partnership, including the councils and the private sector businesses.

"By working together and creating that strong partnership a successful Clyde Green Freeport bid has the potential to bring significant economic improvements to our area and the wider region, supporting enterprise and regeneration.

"Although the bidding process is highly competitive, and we are up against strong competition, we are hopeful of a successful result as we believe our bid will deliver the economic outcomes desired by the UK and Scottish governments.”

Joining Inverclyde in the bid are partners Glasgow Airport, Clydeport, Mossend International Railfreight Park in North Lanarkshire and the other local authorities who make up the Glasgow City Region councils.

The bid will be submitted later this month to both the Scottish and UK governments, with two green freeports to be established in Scotland.

Those behind it say that it would attract major new investment, develop global trading opportunities and create jobs.

Bosses at Peel Ports have highlighted the crucial role that Greenock Ocean Terminal would play in a freeport.

James McSporran, director at Clydeport, said: “Clydeport has been a mainstay of supporting industry by importing and exporting goods growing to one million tonnes of cargo from its King George V facility to 60,000 containers moving through Greenock.

"It remains a significant player in the development of the Clyde industrial growth and is central to the Clyde Green Freeport bid initiative, providing not only the means to service the local markets but to allow a global reach through in house connectivity to other UK ports such as Liverpool and Medway.”

Full details of the Clyde Green Freeport bid are expected to be unveiled once the bid is formally submitted later in June.