Embassy representatives tour Port of Liverpool container terminal

Simon Dixon of Peel Ports, left with international trade adviser David Wright

Peel Ports has welcomed representatives from British Embassies from around the world for a tour of the Port of Liverpool’s Liverpool2 container terminal.

Representatives from the embassies in China, Brazil, South Korea, Croatia, India and Denmark took part in the visit as part of a tour aimed at improving their knowledge of the UK maritime sector.

The event was arranged by the Department for International Trade and gave Peel Ports an opportunity to showcase the port’s expanding connections across the globe and its role as a significant enabler of North West and wider UK economy growth.

Visitors and DIT officials were also briefed on the investments that Peel Ports has made and recent business developments at the port.

Shipping line MSC announced in March it was launching a new service between the Mediterranean and Canada including a stop off at Liverpool. MSC and Maersk Line also announced a separate service from Liverpool to New York which began in 2018.

Paul Stowers, head of North West UK regions, Northern Powerhouse Department for International Trade, said: “The whole group were very impressed with the solutions and services offered by Peel Ports and are extremely grateful for their hospitality. International trade is vitally important to all of our countries and we are always looking to learn more about the opportunities that may be mutually beneficial.”

Mark Whitworth, Peel Ports chief executive, said: “Our investments are opening up trade opportunities for companies around the world that want to trade with the UK. Thanks to our location and facilities we can help cargo owners to reduce costs, congestion and carbon emissions, whether they are importers or exporters.”

Peel Ports has made a number of investments in the North West over the past five years, totalling more than £650m.

Other investments include the £125m tri-modal inland port facility and national distribution park, Port Salford, and the £100m biomass terminal at the Port of Liverpool.

Maritime is important for the North West region. In England, outside London and the South East, the North West has the highest number of people working within the industry (34,600) and the highest GVA (£2.4bn).

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