Mike Parker:
Hope and clarity

Wherever I have lived and worked in the world I have been proud to say that I come from Liverpool. It will come as no surprise that everyone I have met has heard of this important city, and during the course of the next 12 months even more people will know what Liverpool has to offer, whether they are local residents, tourists, investors or developers.

After little or no change for many years, there has been significant development in Liverpool in recent times. The progress achieved to date is very positive and I want now to dedicate some of my time to driving forward the city's physical and economic resurgence.

I want to build on the work of the city's regeneration agencies and ensure that schemes already underway are completed and attract the retailers and businesses that are so important to the city's future economic growth.

In 2008 I'm looking forward to Liverpool's re-emergence as a major European city. We will be shopping in one of Europe's largest city centre retail areas, world-class concerts and international conventions will be taking place at the Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool and cruise liners will be moored again on the Mersey.

The new School of Tropical Medicine will complement the city's stock of world-class knowledge centres. The Commercial District, expanding as a top quality business destination in Pall Mall, will be a further attraction to high added value businesses.

We are, of course, European Capital of Culture this year and our rich cultural and creative assets will put us on a world stage and help Liverpool attract further investment to secure faster, sustained economic growth.

During the next 12 months, both the public and private sector will work together more closely with Liverpool's new economic development company to be called Liverpool Vision, due to be operational from April.

This new company, led by Jim Gill, will deliver a more joined-up approach to property and infrastructure, investment, enterprise, business support and skills. It will make our efforts more effective in promoting Liverpool as the economic hub of the city region and increasing its international presence and profile.

It is vital that the city uses its massive regeneration programme and year in the cultural spotlight to support new business start-ups, encourage indigenous businesses to grow and secure inward investment.

Such a lot has been achieved already, but there's more to do to make Liverpool the modern, business-friendly city of which we can all be justly proud - especially because we all worked together to create it.

• Mike Parker is group chief executive of BNFL and chairman of Liverpool Vision, the city's new regeneration company. This article first appeared in the latest City Centre Development Update.