Lancashire is firmly on the world stage this week as the county is showcased at Expo Real, Europe’s largest real estate and investment trade fair, which takes place in Munich, Germany.

The exhibition attracts the international real estate sector with more than 45,000 delegates last year.

Lancashire is participating as part of a UK & Partners Pavilion, which features an ‘Invest in Lancashire’ branded meeting area.

Lancashire’s delegates are Stephen Young, Executive Director of Growth, Environment, Transport & Community Services, Lancashire County Council, and David Taylor, Chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.

Stephen Young says: “Our participation at Expo Real showcases the county’s sector strengths, commercial opportunities and massive investment potential.

“We’re a county that has already attracted many British and internationally-owned businesses, which have re-invested in Lancashire, where a skilled workforce and some of England’s best universities are on hand to support future development and innovation.”

David Taylor says: “Expo Real gives us the opportunity to highlight the fantastic benefits Lancashire has to offer as an investment destination. With the economic challenges and global competition facing many UK regions, Lancashire needs to increase its visibility.

“We will be promoting Lancashire’s distinctive character and its sector strengths in aviation and advanced manufacturing, engineering, energy and chemicals, to an audience of potential investors and developers.”

 A range of large-scale investment opportunities and major schemes being brought forward will be highlighted,  including the £434m Preston and South Ribble City Deal, the county-wide Lancashire Advanced Manufacturing Energy Cluster (LAMEC), the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at Samlesbury, UCLan’s Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) in Preston, Lancaster University’s Health Innovation Campus (HIC) and the proposals for Morecambe’s Eden North development.