CANTERBURY is in danger of becoming a business backwater, a company boss warned this week.

Michael Head, managing director of Crown Products in Herne Bay, fears the area's reliance on retail and tourism is costing the local economy dear.

He was speaking as the chairman of the Canterbury 4 Business group, which next month jointly hosts a business exhibition in the city.

"Our aim is to push the needs of business up the agenda and to promote the economy.

"The fact is that employment opportunities in the private sector in the district have actually fallen by 10 per cent when they are going up in other areas.

"While places like the Thames Gateway, Ashford and Sittingbourne are creating those opportunities, Canterbury is really struggling.

"There is too much reliance on retail and tourism when what is needed is a more integrated economy with a bit of everything.

"We have so many students achieving top qualifications from our universities and colleges, but there are very few good jobs out there in the local economy for them.

"I am not talking about developing large industrial factory sites, but smaller hi-tech businesses with perhaps 20 to 100 employees.

"Canterbury needs something like the business park at Kings Hill at West Malling.

"We are trying to get over the message that it really matters and for it to become the focus of attention."

The Canterbury Business Exhibition called Canterbury Meets the Buyers takes place at the Kent County Cricket Ground between 4pm and 8pm on Thursday, March 4 and will be formally opened by the Lord Mayor at 6.30pm. It continues the following day between 9am and 4pm.

Up to 60 exhibitors are expected to showcase their businesses and identify network opportunities.

The event is being jointly supported by the city council, Business Link and Business Network International.

But on March 2 and 3, the group will also be hosting business breakfast meetings at the offices of Reeves and Neylan in Canterbury with city and county councillors in a bid to get their support for creating more new business opportunities.

Mr Head said: "The Local Plan identifies very little land for new business use but our hope is that the Innovation Centre at the University of Kent will act as the showcase for Canterbury and encourage more opportunities."