City Region is promoting £10bn growth plan and projects including North Docks regeneration

Liverpool City Region leaders are heading to global property forum MIPIM on the French Riviera this week with a clear message – ‘now is the time to invest’.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and leaders from the public and private sectors will be in Cannes to promote £11bn of investment opportunities and a decade-long blueprint to grow the economy by £10bn.

Among the opportunities they will be promoting include “the City Region’s largest ever Investment Fund” that they hope will drive growth, create jobs and bring tens of thousands of homes to the six boroughs. More details will also be revealed about a new Mayoral Development Corporation to lead regeneration in Liverpool’s North Docks between the city centre and the Hill Dickinson Stadium, while leaders will also promote recent investments including tech giant Kyndryl’s move to Liverpool that could create up to 1,000 jobs.

READ MORE: ‘Reflecting Liverpool’s confidence’: Why £1bn King Edward Triangle is getting a new nameREAD MORE: ‘An important signal of Manchester’s ambition’: Why city region is going big at MIPIM in 2026

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “If we’re serious about creating good jobs, transforming the face of our area and building the homes our residents need, then we have to be in the room with investors.

“There’s renewed confidence and interest in our region. That’s why we’re heading to MIPIM, armed with £11 billion worth of genuine, investible opportunities – from the transformation of Liverpool’s North Docks through a new Mayoral Development Corporation, to major regeneration around Central Station, Health Innovation Liverpool and the continued growth of our life sciences and innovation campuses.

“In the Liverpool City Region, we believe growth should mean something to everyone – whether that’s better-paid jobs, thriving neighbourhoods or more opportunity for local people.

“And we’ve shown we’re prepared to put our own money on the table to make that happen, whether investing in new trains, bringing buses back under public control or backing the infrastructure businesses rely on, like our own digital connectivity LCR Connect, a publicly-owned broadband network.

“We’re looking for long-term partners who share that ambition. Investors who want to grow with us, create lasting value and be co-authors of the next chapter in our region’s story.”

Other key opportunities to be promoted at MIPIM will include £125m plans to develop Maghull Health Park and projects to expand two innovation campuses – Knowledge Quarter Liverpool and Sci-Tech Daresbury. Leaders will also promote £5bn plans to redevelop Liverpool Central Station.

Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool City Council and LCR cabinet member for innovation, said: “Attracting investment into our city region is essential for the jobs and housing that we need for our future economic success. MIPIM puts us in front of the world’s biggest investors, and with our new masterplans, shared vision and incredible development opportunities we will be making a compelling case that now is an ideal time to invest in the Liverpool City Region.”

Cllr Anthony Burns, leader of St Helens Borough Council and LCR cabinet member for Net Zero, said: “We head to MIPIM with one of our largest public and private sector delegations confident in the knowledge the Liverpool City Region will be presenting a compelling investment proposition to investors. With our globally recognised industrial and business strengths, world-leading innovation, more than £11bn of investment opportunities and new comprehensive plans to accelerate growth, we firmly believe now is a great time to invest in the City Region.”

Colin Sinclair, chief executive of Knowledge Quarter Liverpool and Sciontec Developments as also chair of the Invest Liverpool City Region partnership taskforce, said: “Something very special is happening in the Liverpool City Region that’s rightly getting noticed across the world and is attracting major overseas investors. With our global brand, world-leading innovation and brilliant people, we’re a city region with momentum and unrivalled opportunities.”

Caroline Simpson, CEO of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, says Manchester needs to promote itself on the world stage

Greater Manchester leaders will be out in force at MIPIM this week as the city region showcases its billion-pound growth fund and other major regeneration announcements.

The global property showcase at Cannes on the French Riviera is always a key focus for the city region as it looks to continue its track record of winning global investment. Some 60 private sector partners are backing the city’s MIPIM presence this year, alongside representatives from all ten local authorities.

Speakers supporting the delegation are set to include include Mayor Andy Burnham, Manchester City Council leader Cllr Bev Craig, and Steve Coogan and Rose Marley, co-chairs of Middleton’s Mayoral Development Corporation.

Here Caroline Simpson, Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, explains why it’s so important for Greater Manchester to be so strongly represented at MIPIM.

Why are you attending MIPIM this year?

Attending MIPIM 2026 is an important signal of Manchester’s ambition. For us, it’s not just about doing business; it’s also about telling our story clearly and confidently. We want to demonstrate the scale of opportunity across our region and show that we have a consistent, long-term plan for growth.

What are the main opportunities or projects you’re planning to promote?

We’ll be talking about our vision for the next decade of Good Growth and presenting our 10-year integrated development pipeline which is backed by our £1bn ‘Good Growth Fund’. This will help us deliver thousands of new homes, revitalised town centres, and major employment and innovation sites. Our aim is to target funding and effort at projects that will have the most impact for our economy and communities.

Are you looking for any particular type of investment or support?

We already have a strong pipeline and compelling proposition, so we’re looking to work with institutional and private equity investors who believe in our places as much as we do and want to back them for the long-term. What matters most is that partners share our ambition and are committed to delivering real benefits for our region and its people.

Do you have any activities or special events planned for this year’s event?

As always, the Manchester stand will host a programme of activity highlighting our priorities and some of our landmark schemes. We’ll also be launching our Investment Opportunities.

Why do you think MIPIM remains relevant?

MIPIM brings together a mix of global investors, developers and specialists. With the scale of projects across Greater Manchester, having the chance to present on a world stage is important, as is having focused conversations with people who can help us move things forward.

The escalation of military conflict between the United States and Iran has driven global oil prices above $100 per barrel, sparking a significant surge in the U.S. dollar as investors pivot toward safe-haven assets.

This geopolitical instability has disrupted energy supplies in the Middle East and triggered a sell-off in global stock markets and major international currencies, leading to widespread concerns regarding prolonged inflation and a potential slowdown in global economic growth.

Key Points

• The U.S. dollar reached a three-month peak against the euro and saw sharp gains against the yen, sterling, and the Australian and New Zealand dollars.
• Safe‑haven shift: The dollar is outperforming gold as the preferred safe‑haven asset during this crisis.
• The surge in global oil prices has exerted significant downward pressure on the Thai baht, driven by Thailand’s status as a net oil importer.
• Brent and U.S. crude futures jumped to over $108 per barrel, with analysts warning that prices could reach $150 if Gulf energy producers are forced to shut down exports.
• Approximately one-fifth of the world’s crude and natural gas supply has been suspended due to Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran has signaled a continued hardline stance by naming Mojtaba Khamenei as the successor to the Supreme Leader amidst the ongoing conflict with the U.S. and Israel.

The surge in global oil prices has exerted significant downward pressure on the Thai baht, driven by Thailand’s status as a net oil importer. High energy costs increase the country’s import bill, which threatens to flip its trade surplus into a deficit and encourages capital flight toward safe-haven assets like the U.S. dollar.

Currency impact

• The U.S. dollar surged to a three‑month high against major currencies (euro, yen, sterling, AUD, NZD).
• The Thai baht weakened sharply due to Thailand’s reliance on oil imports.

Financial markets are increasingly concerned that high energy prices will act as a “tax” on growth and stoke inflation, potentially preventing central banks from lowering interest rates. Economic repercussions are being felt globally, evidenced by a 1.6% drop in S&P 500 futures and a projected 40 billion baht revenue loss for the Thai tourism industry.

Thai economy effects

• Rising oil costs threaten to flip Thailand’s trade surplus into a deficit.
• Tourism revenue losses projected at 40 billion baht.
• Kasikorn Research warns the baht could slide to ~33 per USD if oil stays above $100.
• Bank of Thailand estimates each $10/barrel increase cuts GDP by 0.1–0.15 percentage points.

Kasikorn Research Center(K-Research) warns that if oil prices remain above $100 per barrel, the Thai bahtcould slide to nearly 33 to the dollar. This volatility is intensified because Thailand spends roughly 5% to 6% of its GDP on oil imports, a higher proportion than its Southeast Asian neighbors. Bank of Thailandgovernor Vitai Ratanakorn stated that these price hikes directly impact the economy, with every $10 increase per barrel potentially shaving 0.1 to 0.15 percentage points off the GDP.

Global repercussions

• Stock markets fell (S&P 500 futures down 1.6%).
• Economists warn of stagflation risks (high inflation + stagnant growth).
• Shipping costs and war‑risk premiums are rising.

The escalating Middle East conflict has triggered significant volatility in global energy markets, characterized by surging oil and gas prices and the effective closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz. Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, international benchmark oil prices like Brent crudehave jumped by nearly 30% in a week, surpassing $110 per barrel as traders fear a long-term disruption to the 20% of global seaborne oil that transits the region.

Energy market disruption

• Brent and U.S. crude futures jumped past $108 per barrel, with warnings prices could hit $150 if Gulf exports halt.
• About 20% of global crude and natural gas supply is suspended due to Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz.

Economists warn that the current crisis could lead to global stagflation, a combination of high inflation and stagnant economic growth, particularly if energy infrastructure or shipping routes remain blocked for an extended period. While some analysts believe a global supply surplus may moderate long-term impacts, the immediate fallout includes skyrocketing maritime freight costs, increased war-risk premiumsfor shipping, and a shift in investor sentiment toward safe-haven assets like gold. National governments are responding by tapping strategic reserves and seeking alternative fuel sources from the U.S. and West Africa to mitigate the energy price shock.

Other People are Reading

Global equity markets have entered a phase of heightened volatility as escalating geopolitical tensions and rising crude oil prices triggered a sharp sell-off across major financial centres. From Asia to the United States, markets opened the week under pressure, reflecting growing investor anxiety over the economic fallout of a prolonged conflict and tighter energy supplies.

The risk-off mood has been visible across asset classes. Asian markets witnessed steep declines, with Japan’s benchmark plunging sharply while Hong Kong and mainland Chinese indices also slipped. Futures for Indian equities signalled a weak start as investors reacted to the negative global cues and uncertainty surrounding the trajectory of the conflict.

Market participants say the biggest concern now is that the conflict, which many initially believed would be short-lived, could drag on longer and create broader economic disruptions. According to Rajeev Agrawal from DoorDarshi India Fund, the consequences could be particularly severe if oil prices remain elevated for an extended period.

“This war was initially expected to be short, but things are becoming worse by the day,” Agrawal said, warning that tight oil markets could quickly create problems for many economies, including India.

The sharp fall in global equities has left investors grappling with a critical question: whether to protect capital by booking profits or to use the correction to deploy fresh money.

Rather than reacting impulsively to volatility, Agrawal emphasised the importance of portfolio rotation. “In such situations we rotate our capital,” he said, explaining that investors should gradually sell stocks that appear fully valued and redeploy the proceeds into companies that have become more attractive after the correction.
Periods of broad market stress, he noted, often push down prices across sectors, creating opportunities for long-term investors willing to look beyond near-term turbulence.Agrawal believes that certain sectors could prove relatively resilient despite the challenging macro environment. Financials, for instance, may not be as directly affected by rising oil prices compared to other parts of the economy.

“Financials will of course feel the impact if the economy slows, but the downside can sometimes be exaggerated in such market conditions,” he said, adding that this is where investors can selectively “cherry pick” opportunities.

Another theme he highlighted is renewable energy. With oil prices surging, the push for alternative energy sources could gain momentum, particularly in countries like India that are heavily dependent on energy imports. Investments in renewable energy, he said, could therefore benefit from the current global backdrop.

Even so, Agrawal cautioned against trying to perfectly time the market bottom. “It is very hard to know when the dust will settle,” he said, noting that unexpected developments can quickly change market direction.

Instead, he advocates a disciplined investment approach—maintaining some cash while gradually deploying capital during market declines. Investors should “start nibbling into positions” that have become compelling while also ensuring they retain enough liquidity to act on future opportunities.

In an environment where geopolitical shocks and energy markets are driving volatility, the strategy for investors may not lie in predicting the next market move, but in staying patient, disciplined and prepared to rotate capital as opportunities emerge.