LIVERPOOL Vision is confident that private sector support for the city’s presence at the World Expo 2010 will enable it to meet its own hopes for how it will showcase the city’s offer.

The city had targeted to raise £3m, which it considered to be how much it would cost to give Liverpool an “outstanding” presence at the six-month exhibition in Shanghai.

The Northwest Development Agency contributed £1.25m and Liverpool City Council are spending £300,000.

Mike Taylor, Liverpool Vision’s director of investment and enterprise, said: “I had thought we could get another £1m in. With the in-kind help, that £3m figure is about right.

“We will certainly put on a show that we thought was inconceivable at the time for £3m.

“It was probably always quite an ambitious target. I don’t think we will be that far off and that’s the power of the opportunity we are positioning to people.”

The latest to sign up to sponsor Liverpool’s pavilion is law firm DLA Piper.

Philip Rooney, DLA Piper’s managing partner in Liverpool, said: “The Expo is an opportunity for the region to showcase itself to decision makers from important markets, both established and up and coming.

“In particular, this is a chance to build a strong relationship with the Chinese economy which has the potential to dominate trade globally in the future.”

DLA Piper joins companies including Peel Holdings, Arup, Grant Thornton and EA Technology in backing Liverpool’s presence – with a number of other firms in detailed negotiations about becoming official partners.

Mr Taylor said: “We are at the final stages with about 15 organisations and in talks with another 35 companies, and then we have a wider list of about 40 companies who are interested.

“We are balancing the urgency with trying to get everyone signed up as early as possible because, by the end of February, we lose the chance to do much flexing within the audio-visual content.”

The World Expo begins on May 1 and Liverpool Vision’s focus is beginning to shift to getting companies to visit the Expo.

“Now it’s less about the money and more about maximising the number of companies who go,” added Mr Taylor. “That’s where the real, long-term growth is.

“Relatively few people will come back with contracts and orders but everyone will take huge steps forward about how to work with emerging markets. It’s not a quick fix, but it’s a huge opportunity to accelerate your understanding and your contacts.”