North East development leaders have launched a bid to attract more inward investment by flying the regional flag at three major conferences..
Following success at the Mipim and UK’s Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) events earlier this year, Invest Newcastle, part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI), has set plans in motion to attend the two real estate events in 2023. The private sector joined Invest Newcastle at an event to find out more about opportunities for next year, and discuss how they can be part of a North East delegation. The events mark vital opportunities to attract investment for the region, allowing it to maintain a healthy pipeline while also expanding on the social and economic ambitions of the wider North East.
Taking place over three days in March in Cannes, France, Mipim brings together key players and influencers from across the global real estate sector, giving regions the chance to shine a light on major development opportunities. Newcastle will join other cities and regions including Manchester, Liverpool, London, Cardiff, Belfast, West Midlands, West of England, and Central South UK at the event.
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The inaugural UKREiiF took place in Leeds in May, and Invest Newcastle is preparing to have a bigger presence in 2023, from May 16 to 18. The forum provides a national platform to accelerate the Levelling Up agenda, aiming to unlock inclusive and sustainable investment across all sectors of the property industry.
The Tyneside team will be hosting a programme of thought leadership events at its stand while also showcasing the region’s expertise at a national level.
Jennifer Hartley, director of Invest Newcastle, said: “These two conferences are incredibly important for our region. They are an opportunity for us to profile Newcastle and the wider North East and collaborate on a national and global scale. Not only are we able to keep pace with global trends but also showcase the incredibly exciting innovation happening right here on our doorstep, working with our sponsors, thought leaders, other UK cities and government.
“It has never been so important to put the region in front of investors, influencers, and decision makers and secure investment for our region. We really are all stronger together and this is about the whole region and our combined ambition.
“These events wouldn’t be possible without the support of our partners and sponsors who come together to demonstrate how collaborative the region is across public sector, private sector, and academia. I look forward to welcoming more organisations to our delegation in the coming months who will support us to promote our city to the world.”
Meanwhile, this week also sees Invest Newcastle lead a regional delegation showcasing the smart credentials of the city – the smartest UK city named in the 2021 IMD Smart City Index – at Smart City Expo 2022 in Barcelona.
Invest Newcastle has partnered with Newcastle City Council, tech firm Monstarlab, the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA) and smart city consultancy Urban Foresight to build on the city’s smart credentials, establish further international connections and promote Newcastle and the wider region as a place to locate and grow a business.
Sam Cassidy, senior inward investment manager (energy and sustainability), Invest Newcastle, said: “Newcastle and the wider region has a unique ecosystem, which sees regular collaboration between the public sector, private sector, academia and the community, means that we are a test bed for smart, digital and sustainable technologies. We have a short window to transform our cities and create more sustainable environments. Attending Smart City Expo gives us the opportunity to not only showcase our world-class assets but to drive inward investment in this cutting-edge sector and to take learnings from and collaborate with experts in the field.”
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