Arup backs Liverpool at World Expo

26 Nov 2009, 11:01

Global architectural and engineering firm Arup is the latest private sponsor to sign up to the city's pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

Arup said it hopes to help showcase the North West's innovations in design, planning and engineering at the Expo, which is expected to attract more than 70 million visitors from 1 May to 31 October next year.

The firm, which has offices across the world, has taken a main sponsorship package, at a cost of £75,000. Arup joins nuclear specialist EA Technology and infrastructure maintenance group Enterprise on the same sponsorship level.

Developer and transport giant Peel Holdings paid £150,000 to be lead sponsor. Peel hopes to attract Chinese funding for a 1m sq ft 60-storey skyscraper, to be called Shanghai Tower, on Liverpool's Central Docks.

Arup's Liverpool office has 42 staff and has worked on the Liverpool Canal Link and the University of Liverpool Engineering Restructuring Project.

Garry Banks, director of Arup Liverpool, said: "We are thrilled to be able to expand Liverpool's offer at the World Expo 2010. Liverpool has achieved a great deal in a relatively short period of time and is quickly becoming an internationally recognised city. The Expo is the next big global initiative after the Capital of Culture and the fact that Liverpool has a dedicated presence at this event says a great deal about the ambitions of the city. I'm sure it will have a significant impact on its world standing."

Liverpool's participation in the Expo is being led by Liverpool Vision in partnership with the North West Development Agency, Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool-Shanghai Partnership.

The Merseyside councils of St Helens, Halton, Wirral, Knowsley and Sefton also agreed in principle this week to support the Shanghai exhibition with a combined £90,000 package.

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