Region to focus on major schemes including HS2, UK Central and its two Enterprise Zones.
A record number of private and public sector partners from across Greater Birmingham have joined forces to take part in global property and real estate show, MIPIM (Cannes, 15th-18th March), with eleven new partners joining the delegation this year.
With 38 partners taking part in this year’s delegation, and 20 events planned during the show, MIPIM 2016 is set to surpass the success of last year’s event. Greater Birmingham’s stand secured record investor attendance in 2015, attracting more than 350 delegates from 30 countries and hosting 11 events. Major media announcements included the unveiling of the Birmingham Smithfield quarter and the city’s housing prospectus, while the #MIPIMBrum hashtag reached nearly 740,000 Twitter users.
Cllr John Clancy, Leader of Birmingham City Council, will be attending MIPIM alongside representatives from the Black Country LEP, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and the Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP. He commented: “It is crucial for us to promote Greater Birmingham to MIPIM’s international delegates, who have the ability to kick-start major regeneration schemes across the region. By working in partnership with the private sector, we can ramp up Greater Birmingham’s economic resurgence and ensure that its potential is fully realised.
“With so many sites to showcase, led by major schemes including our HS2 stations and Enterprise Zones, I’m sure that Greater Birmingham will once again be catching the attention of the global investment community.”
Key schemes to be showcased during MIPIM will range from mixed-use developments such as Paradise, Birmingham Smithfield and Arena Central, to the Enterprise Zones in the Black Country and Birmingham city centre. Transport infrastructure – including Birmingham Airport and the opportunities surrounding the region’s two HS2 stations at Birmingham Curzon and UK Central in Solihull – will also be presented to the thousands of investors attending the event.
Cllr Ian Courts, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Managed Growth at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, said: “MIPIM enables us to showcase one of the country’s most compelling inward investment locations to a global audience. UK Central is directly accessible from London and home to major economic assets including Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre, a planned High Speed Rail Interchange, Jaguar Land Rover and several world class business parks.”
Greater Birmingham has continued to attract investment from across the globe. The region secured 86 foreign direct investment projects during 2014/15, creating 5,196 new jobs – a 4% increase on 2013/14, which generated 4,987 jobs.
Tom Westley, Black Country LEP lead for the Enterprise Zone, added: “Greater Birmingham’s MIPIM 2016 delegation will be its biggest yet, demonstrating how the region’s investment potential has gained real momentum and remains highly competitive. Delegates will be able to learn about a significant range of opportunities in the Black Country, from our Enterprise Zone to the significant investment in Wolverhampton City Centre, which includes additional retail space, commercial opportunities as well as creating new homes. For the Black Country MIPIM is a fundamental opportunity to make new industry connections and stimulate investor interest.”
MIPIM 2016 is set to welcome 21,400 international delegates from 89 countries – including 3,560 investors, architects, planners and developers, and more than 360 journalists.