Liverpool steps-up bid to woo Chinese investment

A  PARTNERSHIP designed to build Liverpool’s business links with China and encourage inward investment has been launched.

The It’s Liverpool in China Partnership comprises organisations including The Peel Group, China-Britain Business Council, UKTI, Liverpool and Sefton Chambers of Commerce and Liverpool City Region LEP.

The group is led by Liverpool Vision, which has been working closely with China since leading the city region’s efforts at the Shanghai Expo in 2010.

The increasing importance of attracting international students is reflected in the involvement of University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores and Liverpool Hope, each of which is home to many Chinese students already.

The group’s activities will include partner trade missions to China, building interest in the city in China’s travel trade and the securing of Chinese delegations and events to the International Festival for Business 2016.

The partnership will take advantage of the city’s Memorandum of Understanding with Shanghai, and work together to host an ‘Invest Liverpool’ event in the Chinese city later this year.

Max Steienberg, chief executive of Liverpool Vision and chair of the new body, said: “There are a lot of organisations here who have a clear focus on China. You only need look at the number of Chinese students who choose Liverpool, the high volume of consumer tourists and the work done by companies such as Peel. However until now, there was nothing which channelled these efforts across education, property and tourism into one cohesive offer to be presented to China and state the city’s case.

“We have a defined set of actions and objectives, which are all achievable in the short-term but will hopefully reap long-term rewards for Liverpool. And it’s not a closed club; we encourage any local businesses with Chinese aspirations to get involved.”