International Festival For Business In Liverpool Begins Today

The International Festival for Business in Liverpool opens today Tuesday 17 June 2014. A major component of the 250,000-visitor International Festival for Business in Liverpool this summer is the one-day CEO-level conference will focus on the crucial role the shipping and port sectors play in driving forward trade growth in the UK and abroad. The theme of the conference being 'Harnessing the Strength of Shipping Innovation'.

Stephen Hammond MP, UK Minister for Shipping and Ports, will lead a debate that will include high-level contributions from the leading players in shipping and freight movement as they discuss the latest areas of blue sky thinking and how this is altering the way business is conducted and trade flows are enhanced

Mark Williams, Group Research Director for Braemar Seascope, is expected to set the trend on the Maritime, Logistics and Energy conference strand with his speech on “Is global shipping out of the woods yet?”

Shipping is a cyclical industry and remains high risk for investors compared to other asset classes. Since the global financial crisis began in 2008, the shipping industry has been through one of the deepest recessions in living memory. Nonetheless, it not only remains vital to world trade and the economic health of individual nations, but also offers a variety of opportunities for investors, employers, and individuals around the world. In this presentation, Mark Williams will discuss where we are in the shipping cycle globally and will indicate where the UK can take advantage of market opportunities. He will look at specific sectors such as oil, gas, dry cargo, container shipping,
logistics and services.

“I’m very pleased to be representing Braemar at the IFB” said Mark Williams. “I was born and raised in Liverpool. I’ve always had a strong connection with its maritime and shipbuilding history. This event underlines the importance of Liverpool and the North West to the UK’s maritime economy, and the importance of the UK’s maritime expertise to projecting a strong image of the UK overseas.”