PM Launches International Festival For Business

05 Jan 2013

Liverpool has begun the countdown to the International Festival for Business in 2014.

The 61-day event is expected to attract £100m of inward investment to the Liverpool and Wirral region.

Prime Minister David Cameron visited Liverpool to launch the event and said the city is involved in a “global race” with other international business hubs such as Beijing and Jakarta.

Mr Cameron said: “If 2012 showed us anything, it showed us that we can achieve great things in this country - we can achieve our personal best, go for gold, put on a show that will amaze and dazzle the world.

“That is what we did in 2012 and that is what I know you will do in 2014.”

Next summer's event is expected to attract 250,000 visitors from around the world. Meanwhile, Liverpool is also set to host the annual Accelerate festival on 26-28 June 2013.

Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson has urged Mr Cameron to reconsider the series of spending cuts affecting local councils in the north of England.

He said he was “delighted” to welcome the Prime Minister to launch the event, adding: “Our city is no stranger to spectacle and has proved over the last few years its first class ability to host major global events.

“We look forward to showing the world the very best of Liverpool and the UK and what’s more, the very best in international business.”