Cities reveal plan of attack for MIPIM
BIRMINGHAM and Coventry have detailed their strategies for the important inward investment and property development show MIPIM, which takes place in Cannes next month.
Birmingham will outline how it is creating the physical and economic environment needed to attract investment despite current fiscal challenges.
Coventry, meanwhile, plans to showcase its blueprint for the total redevelopment of the south side of the city with the aim of interesting potential development partners.
Business Birmingham, the city’s inward investment programme operated by Marketing Birmingham, is managing the city’s presence at MIPIM and it will be supported by a delegation drawn from across the public and private sectors – which includes 18 of the city’s leading companies.
Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “In these economically challenging times, cities are competing for investment more fiercely than ever before. By truly understanding the pressures on investors and what they need to achieve a competitive return on their investment, Birmingham is attracting attention.
“From major public/private sector collaboration on regeneration projects, such as Icknield Port Loop and the clarity of the city’s development pipeline through the Big City Plan; to the creation of industry clusters and support for entrepreneurs through the city centre Enterprise Zone, Birmingham can demonstrate its commitment to creating the physical and economic environment needed for long term, sustainable growth.”
The city’s MIPIM programme involves 14 events and nearly 20 speakers across the four-day property show. A number of private sector partners are participating in the programme, designed to engage developers and companies looking to invest in the city.
Events range from discussions of Birmingham’s city centre based Enterprise Zone, and the regeneration it is expected to unlock, to the impact of the approved high speed rail link to the capital and airport runway extension. Analyses of the city’s regeneration agenda, including developments such as Paradise Circus, will be complemented by an in-depth look at Birmingham’s growing visitor economy and its success in attracting major new hotel developments to the area.
The partners supporting Birmingham’s MIPIM presence in 2012 include Nikal, Carillion, Jaguar Land Rover and Hines & Moorfield.
Coventry’s presence at MIPIM has been strengthened by five new firms from outside the city.
City representatives are attending the show for the 19th year in succession. This year the Coventry MIPIM Partnership will include McLaren Construction, Birmingham law firm Wragge & Co, Drivers Jonas Deloitte and West Midlands transport authority Centro.
Martin Reeves, chief executive of Coventry City Council, said: “This is a very big year for the city at MIPIM. We are showcasing our blueprint for the total redevelopment of the south side of the city with the aim of interesting potential development partners.
“There is no question that our approach to MIPIM and the fact that we have punched above our weight in front of an international audience does help attract new partners who could be of real benefit to the city.
“To have new partners on board in what are not good economic times, does prove that the approach works.”
A total of 14 companies and organisations will be attending the event and Coventry will be hosting a string of events to highlight opportunities.
