World's Largest Business Festival Facilitates £250 Million Worth of Business Deals

2018 International Business Festival

LIVERPOOL, England, July 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The world's biggest international business festival hosted in Liverpool has facilitated £250 million worth of business deals, according to new research.

The economic windfall has been provided thanks to the biennial International Business Festival, staged in 2014 and 2016, which has attracted 31,000 visitors from 98 countries, with large delegations from China, the US and India.

In 2016 the festival welcomed over 25,000 delegates from around the world, putting on a schedule of inspiring events.

The festival is aimed at small and medium-sized companies, particularly those eyeing overseas trade, with 30 per cent of previous delegates reporting that they were actively exporting or exploring the opportunity of exporting to new international markets.

A total of 103 international delegations made up of 639 unique delegates visited the 2016 festival, with nearly a quarter (23%) of these coming from China.   

Figures were revealed in an independent analysis published with a year to go before Liverpool hosts the 2018 International Business Festival.

Next year's event is already in full swing and organisers predict that the total value of deals over the three festivals will reach £1bn, boosted by the trade and investment from the 2018 event.

The upbeat forecast came as they unveiled details of the 2018 festival, which will be held over nine days in June next year at the international conference centre.

Organisers are promising a stellar line-up of inspirational speakers, including heads of government, royalty and business leaders to be announced in the coming months. Lead sponsor HSBC, have already committed to supporting the 2018 Festival.

Each day will focus on a different high-growth business sector, including global economics, future transport, creative industries, manufacturing and life sciences.

A new innovation hub will showcase the latest business trends; a "festival incubator" will offer expert advice to expanding firms and there will be a wide range of cutting-edge conferences. Taking to the "blueskies stage" will be world-renowned industry experts, influencers and innovators.

Max Steinberg, chair of the 2018 International Business Festival, said: "The Chinese business community is a critical audience for the 2018 International Business Festival. The Chinese and UK business communities have a long history of collaboration and cross-border development. Our festival will provide a strong opportunity for start-ups, SMEs and larger corporations to develop import/export partnerships and generate new business. In 2016, 23 percent of companies participating were headquartered in China; many saw great value in their attendance."