Greater Manchester is currently bidding to become the host city region for the trade convention World Expo in 2025.
The World Expo takes place every 5 years. Dubai has been chosen to host the event in 2020, leaving 2025 still up for grabs.
The Government originally announced its plans to host to convention last year and has now a couple of weeks left (until 31 October) to put the country forward.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) said that Ashton Moss in Tameside has presented itself as a great location to host the global event.
A great event
The expo is a huge event that stays in its chosen location for six months and showcases the best in technology, manufacturing and culture from around the world.
In 2015, the exhibition was hosted in Milan and attracted representatives from 145 countries.
According to the BBC, GMCA said it was “encouraging the government to seize the opportunity for a global shop window to demonstrate that the UK is open for business and committed to international trade following the vote to leave the European Union.”
When it comes to local politics, the sentiment is a mixture of positivity and excitement. And it’s easy to see why: Billions of pounds of investment followed by 20 million visitors and a legacy that could last for years and years afterwards.
With Chancellor George Osborne, a major influencer of the Northern Powerhouse project, not being in office anymore, locals are seeing this as a test for the new prime minister to proof her commitment to England’s North.
Sir Richard Leese
Sir Richard Leese, GMCA lead member of economic strategy, said the continuing commitment to the Northern Powerhouse concept was an important message the government needs to send.
He added: “It is ambitious. But as the London Olympics, and the Manchester Commonwealth Games before them showed, tremendous economic and social benefits can flow from bold and concerted backing for a big idea.”
Councillor Kieran Quinn, GMCA lead member for investment strategy and finance and leader of Tameside Council, said it “made sense” to have the event at the Tameside location.
“We believe Greater Manchester, and Tameside, can make a compelling case to stage this hugely significant event and it can be a powerful ingredient in the drive to rebalance the nation’s economy.”
