Sally Shah, Lead Commissioner – Place and Investment, introduced a report on the background and outcomes of the visit undertaken by Wirral Council Leader, Councillor Phil Davies to China in 2016 as part of a Liverpool City Region delegation.

Attracting inward investment and supporting Wirral businesses to take advantage of international trade opportunities in order to grow were pledges within the Wirral Growth Plan. Economic growth was a key part of realising the Wirral Plan and delivering a better life for Wirral’s residents. As an authority Wirral remained committed to working in close partnership with other authorities in the region to drive economic success through attracting investment. These partnerships meant that the Council was spreading its reach far further than it could achieve by working alone and was able to maximise the range of channels to market that were available.

Responding to comments from Members, Sally Shah stated that:

·  Currently there were two businesses looking to invest in Wirral and a Wirral business was working with a Chinese company to enable it to export to China.

·  Investment from China was being made into student accommodation in Birkenhead.

·  Foundations were being laid for businesses themselves to take up opportunities with China and work on investment was being undertaken with Liverpool City Region partners.

·  The confidence of Chinese investors had not been diminished following any negative publicity with the recent collapse of potential investment in Liverpool’s Chinatown, indeed, at the recent Liverpool International Business Fair, there were 25 delegates from China, compared with 8/9 two years ago.

·  The Council was now at a point were actual projects would be happening at pace with the Council much more focussed to tackle the economic and housing growth agenda with the new directorate and Director, Brian Bailey, now in place.

The Chair thanked Sally Shah for her report and commented that the topic could be followed up in the work programme.

Resolved – That the report be noted.