Liverpool’s International Festival for Business (IFB) is set to return in 2016, presenting a “unique opportunity” for global and regional investment.
According to Max Steinberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision and chairman of IFB 2016, the business festival will attract thousands of businesses to Liverpool from across the globe for three weeks of networking, dealmaking and business development.
A preview event at Lancaster House in London showed the successes of IFB 2014 and explored the experience of international brans in Britain, as well as the growing aspirations of domestic businesses with overseas export ambitions.
Max Steinberg said:
“We’ve had lots of businesses which have said they want to get involved next time,
“I came home from the preview event with business cards in almost every pocket from companies which want to be there in 2016.
“The festival was an untried product in 2014, but I think businesses have now seen the opportunities that have come out of it and want to be involved.
“We’re in dialogue with several countries – as well as several companies – about them participating. There were 92 countries involved in 2014, but there is a major push to make this more of an international event next year.
“The Czech Republic, Spain and Belgium came to see me at the event asking how they can be involved.”
IFB 2014 was the largest event of its kind that year and was credited with generating £200 million of inward investment and more than 10,000 new jobs. The event also allegedly contributed to even more inward investment from China in UK, which has more inward investment than any other EU country.
Business secretary Vince Cable explained to the assembled audience that IFB 2016 would be a means of the UK government to achieve many of its key initiatives and objectives in business:
“The success of the inaugural International Festival of Business in 2014 was a demonstration of our determination for the UK to remain a top destination for foreign investment, and I’m sure IFB 2016 will be an even more ambitious event.
“Our economy is outperforming many of our rivals and now more than ever investors are looking for opportunities in Britain, from large infrastructure projects to small, innovative startups.
“Last year I was lucky enough to attend several IFB events and the array of British businesses, especially in the manufacturing sector, showcasing their offer and looking to grow abroad was hugely impressive.”
IFB 2016 will run for three weeks rather than the seven weeks of IFB 2014, and will focus on manufacturing, sciences, and innovation.
There will be an extensive exhibition of British products, featuring the country’s most advanced technology and innovation. It is anticipated that the exhibition will play a major roles in showing off the futuristic tech innovations come out of the UK’s universities and academic institutions.
Additionally, IFB 2016 will have an emphasis on increasing trade and exports, working hand in hand with UK Trade & Investment to attract more overseas investors and trading partners.
Any UK company that wants to access these trade resources is advised to join the IFB Business Club.
The IFB 2016 will take place at venues across Liverpool from 13 June to 1 July 2016.
Words: Peter Cribley