Business leaders in Hampshire and the Irish port of Drogheda have signed a new international agreement.

The 'friendship and solidarity twinning agreement' was signed between the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and the Drogheda and District Chamber during Portsmouth & South Coast Business Week.

The four-year agreement aims to foster mutual trade and investment opportunities between the two regions.

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It follows recent collaborations involving business, education and civic leaders in the two regions.

Hampshire Chamber chief executive Ross McNally said: "We are setting the scene for closer trade links between us and Drogheda and the potential to generate jobs and inward investment in both regions.

"This is all about two chambers of commerce working closer together for the benefit of our respective memberships.

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"It is a great opportunity for Hampshire firms to extend their reach and contacts with an EU port, and likewise for Drogheda businesses to leverage the scope for more trading here in the UK."

Located about 25 miles north of Dublin, Drogheda is home to more than 40,000 people, with industries including brewing, distilling and port operations.

Drogheda Chamber chief executive Hubert Murphy, who signed the agreement with Mr McNally, said: "We want to put Drogheda and its incredible potential on the big stage and this was truly one of these moments.

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"We intend to create solid working relationships with the team in Hampshire and open routes for our members to do business there via our contacts.

"At the same time, we’ll open channels for overseas parties to make Drogheda their European base."

The agreement commits the two chambers to promote trade and investment opportunities between their regions, exchange information and best practice on chamber operations and member services and host joint events, business delegations and networking sessions.

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They also aim to create opportunities around offshore wind, which Mr Murphy described as 'huge'.

Portsmouth & South Coast Business Week saw Hampshire Chamber partners from business, local government, education and the third sector come together for a programme of presentations, networking and behind-the-scenes visits.

Events took place in Portsmouth, Havant, Gosport, Fareham and Southampton, with sessions streamed on Facebook Live.