Liverpool bids for inward investment at major property fair

Liverpool made its case for inward investment for the city at a major trade fair in Germany today (October 9).

EXPO REAL is Europe’s largest property and investment trade fair held annually in Munich, attracting more than 40,000 visitors from 75 countries and in excess of 2,000 exhibitors from 35 countries.

It is a major opportunity to communicate UK investment opportunities.

Colin Sinclair, chief executive of Knowledge Quarter Liverpool, and Chris Brown, director at Marketing Liverpool, were at the Messe München Exhibition Centre today.

Mr Brown was speaking first on ‘Integrating Waterfronts with City Centres’ this morning, followed by a speech on ‘What’s Next for the Northern Powerhouse’ this afternoon.

They were among a host of city council leaders from the UK, and their counterparts from across Europe, aiming to promote the UK for inward investment and to share key issues, with healthy cities high on everyone’s agenda.

Professor Greg Clark, of University College London and chairman of The Business of Cities, led the EXPO REAL City Leaders Summit and Urban Innovation Seminars.

He said: “The programme starts with the premise that growth in cities is now a certainty; but whether that is bad growth or good growth depends on other crucial variables.

“These include the quality of urban leadership, infrastructure investment and metropolitan planning, and how far they are combined.”

He added: “The built environment of cities is undergoing profound change.

“Real estate must take new pressures and adjust to the changes they bring.”

Claudia Boymanns, exhibition director of EXPO REAL, said: “With the landscape in the midst of flux, it is more important than ever that the sector embraces every networking opportunity.

“We are delighted that the UK delegation at EXPO REAL continues to increase year-on-year – despite the political challenges that it is facing.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors this week.”