FIFE Council aim to open up trade, tourism and investment opportunities in Poland with a new economic co-operation agreement.

The deal, expected to be backed at the cabinet committee on Thursday, will forge closer ties with the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region and look at what benefits can be achieved by working together.

If agreed, an action plan focusing on areas of mutual interest, such as golf tourism, trade fairs and exhibitions, business events and supply chain opportunities, as well as educational and cultural activities, would be drawn up.

Councillor Altany Craik, the council's economic spokesperson, explained: "There are opportunities to develop existing collaboration arrangements in place between the council and the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship, and create a new, stronger and mutually beneficial co-operation agreement to boost investment.

“Councils have long played a significant role supporting economic relationships, trade development and trading goods across borders.

"This agreement has the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to economic co-operation with other regions. Scotland and Poland have a number of historic links and Polish communities are long settled across Fife.

"We remain committed to opening up our region, increasing investment and fair economic growth and sharing our business expertise.”

The proposal to formalise an agreement came from Kujawsko-Pomorskie, which is one of 16 voivodeships, or provinces, that was created in Poland in 1999.

It's to the north-west of Warsaw and is a large area of just under 7,000 square miles with five cities – the biggest, Bydgoszcz, has a population similar in size to the whole of Fife – and 47 towns.

The centre of Torun, the second largest city, has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site.

The co-operation agreement looks to continue collaboration and forge new relationships with European partners in the wake of Brexit and the end of EU-funded programmes, including the creation of a network of business links and supply chains.

If all goes to plan, a formal signing ceremony would be held in early 2023.

The Fife-Kujawsko-Pomorskie co-operation agreement would be evaluated after 12 months and, if successful, could be extended to other regions.