Mersey councils pay £90k to join Liverpool at expo
MERSEYSIDE’S local authorities have agreed to sponsor Liverpool’s presence at the World Expo in Shanghai.
The collaborative deal will see Sefton, St Helens, Knowsley, Wirral and Halton councils join Liverpool at the World Expo 2010 for a combined cost of £90,000.
Each of the councils is to take a platinum sponsorship package so they can be involved in the event.
Warren Bradley, leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “The fact the other local authorities have come on board is evidence not just of the potential value they see in the event but also of our willingness as local authorities to work together for the good of the city region.”
Cllr Ron Round, leader of Knowsley Council, added: “Knowsley recognises the huge potential China offers in attracting new investment and visitors to our borough.
“Such is the profile of this event, it makes complete sense for all the city region partners to investigate the opportunities it will present in our collective effort to drive up our local economy.”
The World Expo, which runs from May 1 to October 31, is expected to attract around 70 million visitors.
It is regarded as a major opportunity to forge new relationships in emerging markets and is expected to be worth £50m to Liverpool and the North West over the next decade.
The total cost of Liverpool’s presence at the expo is expected to be around £3m, with the NWDA contributing £1.25m and the city council around £300,000. The rest will be raised through sponsorship, with Peel Group already confirmed as the £100,000 headline sponsor.
