20-strong delegation, including firms from the marketing, property and technology sectors, as well as representatives from academia and Chambers of Commerce, will travel more than 15,000 miles and visit six cities. Tony McDonough reports.
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson and Wirral Council leader Phil Davies will this weekend lead a Liverpool city region trade mission to China.
The 20-strong delegation, which includes firms from the marketing, property and technology sectors, as well as representatives from academia and Chambers of Commerce, will travel more than 15,000 miles and visit six cities.
The trip was first revealed to YBNews in September by Liverpool’s Assistant Mayor and Mayoral Lead for Business and International Trade, Gary Millar, who has also recently completed a whistle-stop tour of China and Taiwan.
Invest Liverpool, the city region’s inward investment agency, has organised the two-week mission.
This is the first time the two local authority leaders have made a joint international visit and the delegation marks a renewed focus on developing links with China.
It also reflects a new city region-wide approach to inward investment, being spearheaded by Invest Liverpool.
The delegation will begin with three days in Kunming, Yunnan province, in South West China.
The itinerary will also take in Chonqing, also in South West China, Tianjin, Beijing, Qingdao and Shanghai. In total, delegates will travel 15,547 miles.
Relations with Kunming were strengthened when businesses and government officials from the city sent a delegation to Liverpool during the International Festival for Business 2016, staging an exhibition of Yunnan culture in Liverpool One.
That delegation was one of a number from China, including Hong Kong and Chengdu, which attended the festival.
Mayor Anderson, who is also chair of the City Region Combined Authority, said: “What is really important about this trip is that the city region is coming together in its efforts to build new trade links and seek inward investment.
“Our relationships with Chinese businesses are flourishing and it makes absolute sense that we market the entire city region to achieve maximum impact and the best results.”
Cllr Davies added: “The city region is a great proposition for international investors.
“I am delighted Wirral businesses are joining the delegation and we especially look forward to reconnecting with business and government contacts in Tianjin, where we have established good investment connections.”