Private sector adds its backing to MIPIM

Feb 9 2008 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL is sending its biggest delegation to next month’s MIPIM festival in the south of France, the world’s biggest property event.

The city will be selling itself to the world from March 10-14 at MIPIM in Cannes, regarded as the global market place for property developers and investors.

The Liverpool party will be represented by 26 private sector supporters and five public sector bodies.

And organisers say that for the first time in eight years, there is more of a private sector push than a public sector pull.

Last year Liverpool was accepting offers of support until the 11th hour and eventually 24 private organisations signed up. In 2006, the delegation comprised just 18.

Paul Whitehead, head of marketing at BusinessLiverpool, organiser of Liverpool at MIPIM, said that targets had been met more than three months ahead of the event.

He added: “There is more to Liverpool’s offer than ever before. In addition to our status as European Capital of Culture, years of rebuilding are now reaching completion.

Š“Clearly all this has had some resonance in the business community and they have been signing up quicker than ever.

“While we would never hang up the ‘full’ signs, we reached the level of sponsorship we need in record time this year.”

Mr Whitehead, who has been ensuring that Liverpool makes the most of an event with over 25,000 delegates, added that the private sector is keener than ever to take a lead role.

“We at the city council always wanted to be the facilitator for the private sector and we always envisaged a day when our sponsors would want to take a more proactive role,” he said. “It’s a reflection that big business wants to play a part in reshaping our city.

“In Cannes this year we will be emphasising the strong public/private sector relationship we enjoy by highlighting the new Liverpool Vision.

“But also this year in Cannes more of our sponsors want to take a more proactive presence on our stand and present their work to a global audience, which will only serve to encourage others to become involved in the city’s renaissance.”

tonymdonough