Marketing Liverpool was part of a delegation that headed to Dublin to strengthen co-operation between the cities of Liverpool, Manchester, Dublin and Belfast.
Led by the Irish Foreign Minister and Mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region, the mission included a series of round table discussions and debates and meetings all aimed at developing international strategies to strengthen trade and innovation linkages, centred on the Irish Sea.
The Liverpool delegation included experts from the tourism and business sectors with representatives from the likes of Liverpool FC, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, National Museums Liverpool and Liverpool City Council.
In order to take discussions to the next level, a follow up mission is currently being planned – this time on the English side of the Irish Sea.
In welcoming the mayors, Minister Simon Coveney spoke of his determination to continue to build up Ireland’s engagement with the North of England:
“The development of our partnership with the North of England is a key part of Ireland’s strategy for strengthening relations with Great Britain post-Brexit. We have unique heritage and community ties right across the North of England and there is great potential for Irish firms to develop partnerships with the dynamic Northern Powerhouse region. I know from Team Ireland’s Consulate General and Enterprise Ireland operation on the ground that our commercial, environmental, civic and cultural objectives are aligned with those of many of the region’s powerful new Combined Authorities.
Mayor of Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said:
“It is fantastic to be in Dublin, where we have been given a typically warm Irish welcome. It is clear from our conversations so far that our region’s special relationship with our nearest neighbour is as strong as ever.
“Andy and I arrived here with the ambition to lay the foundations to ensure that the latest chapter in our long shared history is a prosperous one. All the conversations we have had so far this week indicate that this feeling is very much mutual.
“The North West has enjoyed a long, successful trading partnership with Ireland. Looking to the future, we share many of the same aims in things like renewable energy, innovation, trade, and manufacturing. There is still so much potential to unlock and we want Ireland to be near the front of that queue.”