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Recent Visitors
Liverpool makes massive impact
2010. 11 May
On average, between 1,800 and 2,000 people are calling at the stand each day, compared to around 400 visiting the likes of Venice and Pondicherry.
(liverpooldailypost.co.uk)
Liverpool's pavilion at the World Expo, in Shanghai, is beating its competitor cities with treble the number of visitors in opening days.
The £1.1m stand, which opened 10-days ago, combines a video greeting from Sir Paul McCartney, football, maritime and a 3-D film featuring a Chinese dragon and a Liver Bird flying over the North West.
The showpiece is the 3D-film which has left Chinese crowds in awe.
Lindsay Ashworth, development director of main sponsor Peel Holdings, said he was delighted with the way the pavilion was working.
He said: “I think it is fantastic. I could never decide whether it was going to work or not.
“But people come in here and it makes them feel good, they enjoy it.”
He said the penalty shoot-out feature was a hit with Chinese businessmen.
“Liverpool is being seen as a place that is moving forward.
“Of course we have got the Beatles on show here, which is part of the history. But this pavilion shows that Liverpool has got a future.”
The company has come to Shanghai to seek investment in its projects including the multi-billion pound Liverpool and Wirral Waters scheme.
Liverpool will exhibit at the World Expo – known as the business Olympics – for its six months’ duration.
Clive Drinkwater, North West director of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), who was holding a reception at the UK pavilion last night, said: “I have been around the other pavilions and they are not a patch on Liverpool.
“The pavilion is teaching people things they did not know about.”
He said the UKTI’s intention was to promote North West manufacturers selling their products in China.
“There is a growing middle-class and if you spend time here you will see there is conspicuous consumption. They want to spend on luxury goods.”
Because of the growing middle- class and affluence, China offers companies like Jaguar Land Rover, which employs around 2,000 in Halewood, the hope of doing more and more business in the country.
The key to breaking into China is through Shanghai, which is the business capital of the country, he said.
Luo He Qing, director of the investment promotion department of the Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board, said the opportunity for Liverpool to tap into his city was huge: “Gradually, more and more local enterprises are willing to invest in other areas and other parts of the world like Liverpool.
“We send our heartfelt thanks to Liverpool for coming to the World Expo, its presence is most welcome.
“It is also a great opportunity for us to let more people know about Shanghai.
“Liverpool to many in Shanghai is a very familiar city as we know a lot about Liverpool Football Club.”
An independent report by analysts Scott Wilson forecast the economic benefit to Liverpool city region would be anywhere from £5.5m to £47.5m over the next 10 years.
This would come from an increase in the number of Chinese tourists and students coming to Liverpool, along with an uplift in exports and direct foreign investment into the city region.
Source: www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk