The breakfast event, hosted by Knights plc at the firm’s Botley offices on February 13, gave key figures in the county a chance to highlight its strengths ahead of MIPIM Cannes on March 11 – 13.
Richard Byard, business development director at OxLEP, outlined how Oxfordshire is generating £23 billion GVA for the UK economy each year.
He added: “The OxLEP Local Industrial Strategy is now in place, with key sectors such as life sciences, space-led and digital industries now contributing massively at a local level.”
He also alluded to the importance, at a strategic level, of the Oxford- Cambridge Arc which generates more than £111bn GVA with potential to do more – and has been positioned by the UK Government as a national priority.
Peter de Soissons, sales director for MIPIM, illustrated the power of the brand which last year attracted 26,800 visitors from 100 countries, representing over 10,000 companies, making MIPIM the largest event of its kind. Mr de Soissons is keen to see the profile of The Arc boosted at this and future MIPIM events.
Many delegates at last week’s event stayed till mid-morning discussing international opportunities for companies in Oxfordshire.
* Image: Peter de Soissons addressing the February 13 meeting.
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