LEP Interim Chair Asif Hamid and MD Mark Basnett attended MIPIM in Cannes last week alongside 30 local businesses and partners from Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral Councils.
During their time at MIPIM Asif and Mark were involved in several meetings and events including a discussion with Trade Minister Mark Garnier MP to discuss increasing investment in the City Region and exploration of the potential for a pilot Free Trade Zone in the City Region based on work the LEP has been commissioned to lead by the LCR Combined Authority.
On the success of MIPIM this year, Interim Chair Asif Hamid said: “MIPIM 2017 was about showing that we as a City Region have much to offer international investors, developers and occupiers, and it was vitally important for the LEP to have a presence at such an important event. Whilst there we were able to discuss, in detail, our ambition and potential for Liverpool City Region and for the potential to develop a pilot Free Trade Zone for the UK post Brexit based on work the we have been commissioned to lead for the City Region Combined Authority. It was also an opportunity to for us to host a conversation with LFC and England Football legend John Barnes on his shared passion for Liverpool City Region and why he chose to make it his home.”
Asif added: “What attending MIPIM showed me, not only as Chair of the LEP but as a business, was the importance of the private and public sector working together to fly the City Region flag overseas; and I would like to congratulate Sean Beech of Deloitte as the private sector lead as well as Max Stenberg and his team at Liverpool Vision for delivering an outstanding presence at the largest global investment and property forum of its kind.”
“This is a fantastic example of a Global Partnership in practice. Going forward we will be working with Liverpool Vision and both public and private sector partners to put the City Region and our fantastic opportunities for investment fully in the global shop window.”