A POWERFUL trade team from Canada was today sampling York's booming science industry at first hand.

York MP Hugh Bayley recently met the Canadian High Commission's commercial and economic minister, David Plunkett, in London where they discussed investment in York's thriving hi-tech economy.

The Labour member invited the Canadians to see what the city had to offer.

Mr Bayley said: "Over the last ten years York has done a tremendous job attracting businesses and government agencies, and supporting companies already settled here when they need to grow.

York is now a national centre for bio-science as well as a hub for hi-tech computer and heritage jobs."

But the MP said the city should not "rest on its laurels".

He said: "It's important to continually make investors aware of what York has to offer.

"A healthy local economy needs new investment all the time to provide more skilled, well-paid jobs for local people."

The visit will be hosted by york-england.com, formerly York Inward Investment Board.

Dave Taylor, of york-england.com, said he was "delighted" contacts between the two countries would be bolstered.

"York and Canada have great strengths which could lead to scientific and business collaboration," he said.

Updated: 15:58 Monday, December 01, 2003