Hundreds of business professionals attended the third annual East London Business EXPO to showcase their expertise and network with others.

Margaret Hodge, MP for Barking, opened the event on Wednesday at the M&B Club grounds of Sanofi-Aventis, off Dagenham Road, Dagenham, where about 70 exhibitors attended.

The event, run by Barking and Dagenham Chamber of Commerce, was supported by Archant, publishers of the Post.

Aimed at businesses across the East London Corridor, it is staged each year to allow them to easily engage with each other and increase economic activity.

‘Fantastic’

Mrs Hodge said: “There’s been a fantastic focus on East London with the Olympic Games over the summer. Business is growing in Barking and Dagenham.

“There have been more than 100 new business start ups in the last two years.

“There is some evidence of businesses moving from other parts of London – take the Granary development in Abbey Road, Barking.

“Barking Enterprise Centre provides free advice and support to any business based in the borough – and is fully occupied. The Dagenham Business Centre has also been completed.

“Businesses around Creekmouth have benefited with the reopening of Renwick Road bridge and we have the new Technical Skills Academy opening next week in Barking Town Centre which will provide a real work environment rather than simply being like a school or college.

“The Chamber plans to hold exhibitions like today’s in the future – I wish them every success in doing so.”

Expert business seminars ran throughout the day which was followed by a networking evening.