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English cities promoted to international decision makers

Cities Minister Greg Clark met international business and city leaders at the inaugural New Cities Summit in Paris.

He was there to champion the role of English cities in economic recovery, as he met leaders in urban policy and enterprise and promoted England’s new localism approach.

Over 650 delegates from 40 countries attended the summit, which was hosted by Geneva-based non-profit organisation, The New Cities Foundation.

Greg Clark said: “Our great cities in the North, Midlands and West of England are crucial to the economic recovery of Britain. I want to do everything I can to give cities the freedom they need to meet their potential in the global marketplace.

“The New Cities Summit is an excellent opportunity to promote our innovative approach to cities policy and champion our leading cities, which are driving growth and creating jobs.

“The Government has already agreed landmark City Deals with some of the country’s leading cities. In Paris, I have championed that approach and looked to identify new allies in the drive towards enterprise and innovation.

“I was especially pleased to be joined by Mayor Joe Anderson showing that the drive to back growth is a responsibility that transcends party lines.”

Among the leaders at the summit were Wim Elfrink, chief globalisation officer at Cisco; John Rice, CEO of GE Global Growth and Operations; Angel Gurria, Secretary General of the OECD; Kasim Reed, Mayor of Atlanta; and M Christian Sautter, Deputy Mayor of Paris.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .