Liverpool and Manchester will send a joint delegation to the first UK version of the world’s biggest property and investment conference.
For over a decade both cities have attended the annual MIPIM festival in Cannes on the French Riviera, which brings together the world’s major cities with global property developers and investors.
Now they are combining their resources for the first MIPIM UK being held in London from October 15 to 17. They will jointly exhibit as well as participating in a number of events.
The announcement was made at a reception at Princes Dock on Liverpool’s waterfront last night where the city’s elected Mayor Joe Anderson also confirmed the intention to send another private sector-led delegation to MIPIM in Cannes next March.
Mayor Anderson said:
“It’s vital we keep up the momentum we have built since returning to MIPIM last year and following the International Festival for Business 2014. Be in no doubt that Liverpool is a confident business city with an incredible offer and world-leading companies. We need to promote ourselves as a Capital of Commerce at every opportunity.”
“That is why I am making sure that Liverpool is at the heart of the debate to devolve powers to cities following the Scottish referendum. We need the powers to help us grow and attract the right kind of investment that will help rebalance the UK economy.”
“It’s also why I am fighting hard, supported by business in this city, to ensure that Liverpool is linked to HS2, because the economic benefits to Liverpool will be significant not least in making us a destination of choice for investors and visitors.”
Despite sending separate delegations to Cannes this year, Liverpool and Manchester did come together to discuss cross-regional co-operation. In recent months Chancellor George Osborne has talked about creating a “Northern powerhouse” of cities including Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle.
The MIPIM initiative is being project-managed by Marketing Liverpool and Liverpool Vision with the support of businesses including Deloitte, Bruntwood, Brabners, Peel, Grosvenor, Falconer Chester Hall, Arup, Curtins, KPMG, Innov8 Safety Solutions, Moorcrofts, the Liverpool BID, Harcourt, the Chrysalis Fund, the Homes and Communities Agency, Ryder Architecture, City Residential, BDP, Sutcliffe, Wates and Active Profile.
Sean Beech, Deloitte partner and chair of the MIPIM steering group, added:
“In an increasingly competitive market, it is so important for Liverpool to stand out from the crowd to be attractive to current investors and investors of the future.”
Source: Liverpool Echo
Image