Prime Minister David Cameron has revealed the UK Government is working to make a quick announcement on a massive funding package for Aberdeen.
Politicians in the city used an oil and gas summit to urge ministers to back a £2billion finance deal for the area earlier this month.
And, in an interview with the Press and Journal, the Conservative leader dropped a heavy hint rapid progress could be made.
He cited the “very positive” effect of the so-called City Deal project on Glasgow, which provided £1.3billion of extra investment in the area.
The cash will be used to pay for major transport and employment programmes. It is hoped the arrangement will boost the area’s economy by £2.4billion each year.
Senior political figures in the north-east have argued that Aberdeen needs the funding injection to help expand on areas outwith the oil industry.
Suggestions have also been made that money could make its way to Inverness, but the prime minister highlighted Dundee as another potential investment area, despite the city council’s current reluctance to bid to take the money down the A90.
Mr Cameron said: “It always makes sense to work out what more can be co-ordinated between Westminster, Whitehall, Edinburgh and Dundee or Aberdeen.
“We look forward to continuing those conversations and we’re certainly ambitious, as we were with the Glasgow deal, and we hope that we can make progress soon.”
Aberdeen City Council leader, Jenny Laing, wants a combination of government grants and borrowing powers to secure the region’s economic future through the City Deal.
She said that for too long Scotland’s oil and gas sector had been seen as a “cash cow” and with the fall in oil prices it was now time for “pay back”.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the UK Government’s Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael were among the participants.
Mr Carmichael enthusiastically backed the idea, while Chancellor George Osborne previously told the Press and Journal he would look “carefully” at any proposals.
Ms Sturgeon has said she would look at the plan.
This month’s oil summit was called amid warnings the industry was in crisis.
A barrel of Brent crude has more than halved in price since its peak of $115 last summer.
Yesterday, it was standing at less than $53 a barrel.
The UK Treasury said it was working with industry leaders “as a matter of priority” to address the challenges the industry faces.