Liverpool and Wirral leaders join forces to attract Chinese investment
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson and Wirral Council Leader, Councillor Phil Davies are to lead a delegation of city region businesses to South West China to strengthen international relations and explore business and investment opportunities.
This is the first time the two leaders have made a joint international visit and the delegation marks a renewed focus on developing links with China.
Two week-long trips will take place to Tianjin and South West China, Qingdao and Shanghai, with Assistant Mayor of Liverpool and Mayoral Lead for Business and International Trade, Councillor Gary Millar, leading the second visit.
The visits are being coordinated by Invest Liverpool and will offer businesses the chance to explore and develop business and investment opportunities and promote Liverpool City Region as a viable location for Chinese investment.
Liverpool Mayor, and Chair of the City Region Combined Authority, Joe Anderson, said:
“Liverpool City Region’s relationship with key Chinese cities like Kunming and Guiyang is flourishing and we’re looking forward to deepening these links during this important visit and showcasing the business opportunities available. It’s great to be joined by Wirral Leader Phil Davies on this journey, we’re very committed to working together and securing the best results for the city region as a whole and look forward to having a very productive visit.”
Wirral Council Leader, Councillor Phil Davies, said:
“The city region is a great proposition for international investors and we have a fantastic visit itinerary lined up for participating companies which should enable them to build on and strengthen existing relationships, develop new contacts and open up potential markets. We’re focused on developing new opportunities for investment to flow both ways and to capitalise on the synergies that exist between businesses in Merseyside and China. We are also looking forward to visiting our sister city Taicang during the trip.”
The first delegation will visit South West China and Tianjin from October 22nd to October 29th, and will be led by Joe Anderson and Phil Davies. This will build on Liverpool’s relationships in South West China and Tianjin and will be of specific interest to businesses and institutions engaged in creative, digital and IT; healthcare; tourism and culture; and urban development and planning.
The group will visit Kunming, the Capital of Yunnan Province, which signed a Friendship Partnership Agreement with Liverpool earlier this year. The visit will also encompass business meetings and networking opportunities in other cities in the region.
Liverpool signed a Friendly Cooperation agreement with Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province, in Liverpool in April 2016, aiming to capitalise on synergies in crowdfunding finance, big data, high technology, tourism and sports development, between the two cities. Business and investment opportunities are now being explored following the visit of a delegation from Guiyang to the International Festival for Business 2016 (IFB2016).
Liverpool City Region has established relationships in Chongqing and Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, with both cities keen to cooperate further on trade and investment opportunities.
A second delegation led by Councillor Gary Millar will visit Shanghai and port city Qingdao from October 29th to November 4th.
The group will explore business opportunities with particular focus on sectors including creative, digital and IT; shipping and logistics; manufacturing; tourism and culture; property development and investment.
Liverpool signed an Economic Partnership Cooperation Agreement with Qingdao Bureau of Commerce in April 2016 to develop trade and investment opportunities. This relationship was strengthened by the attendance of a delegation from Qingdao at IFB2016.
The delegation will then visit Shanghai, attending the CBBC China Outbound Conference on November 3rd and taking part in a number of business meetings with local companies and organisations. Liverpool is twinned with Shanghai and the two cities have enjoyed a long history of beneficial cooperation.
Companies that would like to take part can register their interest via www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LiverpoolChinaMission