Deloitte – Introduction to the IFB
|
Sean Beech, Head of Deloitte Liverpool office
|
The International Festival for Business docks in Liverpool this week, commencing a two-month celebration of businesses from across the world. The decision to host IFB 2014 creates a great opportunity for recognising diversity in business. The North West plays host to a broad scope of key British industries and has enjoyed continued ascendancy on the international business platform over the past few years. The original epicentre of the Industrial Revolution today fuses traditional and modern approaches to business, attracting international interest both for its long-established sectors and its evolution as a tech hub. Tapping into high growth sectors such as gaming and digital retailing, whilst maintaining a tight grip on our industrial legacy, has enabled the North West to drive inward investment and assert a powerful presence overseas. Deloitte’s NW Cross Border Deals Radar reported last month that the region’s acquisitions of foreign assets had reached almost £2 billion in Q1, in particular with big-ticket deals in the USA and Scandinavia. This figure massively outstripped the £60m recorded for Q1 2013, highlighting the rising global influence in corporate M&A activity and partnering. The North West has also caught the eye of overseas investors interested in everything from budding technological and financial services to construction and manufacturing companies. Inbound investment continues to thrive, having generated £1.2 billion of investment last year, with particular interest from Europe and the US. Our region has also attracted Australian investment, with dynamic economic powers from India and South Africa growing in inbound importance. The leaps and bounds made by the North West over the last few decades hint that despite an illustrious history, the key to our recent commercial success has been the engagement with modern industries. The region has harnessed the opportunities of the Information Age and positioned itself as a world leader in the sector, in the same way we did with Manufacturing over a century ago. Advancements in technology and communication have meant international businesses are today connected in a powerful unprecedented network. As links between different economies have strengthened, so too has the potential for collaboration and worthwhile investment. This is a landmark week for Liverpool and the North West – IFB promises to return the business world to its roots and pave the way for many prosperous international partnerships over the coming months. I hope to see you there!
More articles in
Sectors
CommentsIf you'd like to leave a comment, please register now for free or login
|
