"Currently GDP per capita across the Haven Gateway significantly trails the broader East of England region, so this bid perfectly fits the government’s ambitious levelling up agenda.
“Freeport East will also use our location at the heart of massive new wind and nuclear generation projects to become a national centre of technical excellence.”
Bernard Jenkin, MP for Harwich and North Essex, said: “This bid is economically the most significant for the UK economy as a whole.
"Felixstowe-Harwich is the UK's biggest port. We serve the UK's biggest exporters, have the biggest reach into our industrial heartlands, we will generate the most levelling up, and we offer the biggest contribution to carbon reduction.