Liverpool City Region Freeport Officially Open For Business With Liverpool's Mayor Rotheram

Liverpool City Region Freeport Officially Open For Business As Mayor Pledges To Use Status As A 'Force For Good'

Left to Right: Tom O’Brien, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Freeport, Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Louise Di Blasi, CSO Account Manager, LCR Freeport, Gary McDermott, Managing Director, SSO International, Cllr David Baines, Leader of St Helens Borough Council and LCR Freeport Board member (Credit: LCR/LCR Freeport/Supplied).

Liverpool City Region's Freeport is now officially open for business after the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, approved its full business case which is the result of a long-term effort by the City Region Authority and Mayor.

Once the Freeport is fully operational, it is estimated that the it could create more than 14,000 new highly skilled jobs, deliver £800m of investment and generate an additional £850m of GVA for the Liverpool City Region’s economy.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: 'Throughout the process, I’ve been clear that I will only use our freeport as a force for good, to help build an economy that works for everyone in our region. I want to attract investors into our area who believe in, and support, our local ambitions – those who will help us to protect workers’ rights and uphold standards, and who want to work with us to deliver regeneration and funding in the areas that need it most.'

Mayor Rotheram added: 'The establishment of the Liverpool City Region Freeport has the potential to help our drive to attract international investment, create more well-paid, highly-skilled jobs for local people and build on our existing strengths and promote our international competitiveness. It is estimated that the freeport will add £850m to the local economy and contribute towards our plans to boost research and development and target green technologies to help us reach net zero by 2040 at the latest.'

He, said: 'But, for us, it means much more than that. I want to ensure that there is purpose behind this status that fuels greater social mobility, innovation, and inclusion for our whole region – including the integration of our Fair Employment Charter.'

Mayor Rotheram, said: 'Today, those plans have taken another step forward. I will be pressing for it to be up and running as soon as possible so local people and communities can begin to feel the benefits.'