Virgin head Sir Richard Branson has been announced as headline speaker at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Liverpool this March.
The conference, which will attract over 3,000 entrepreneurs from all over the world, will take place from March 9-16 at the city's BT Convention Centre.
Mr Branson commended the Kaufmann Foundation – the founders of the congress – for bringing the event to Liverpool.
He said: “A strong economy needs to encourage entrepreneurs to create and grow their businesses.
“It is great to see the Kauffman Foundation backing Britain by bringing the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, a showcase of entrepreneurial talent, to Liverpool this March. I'm very happy to be supporting the event."
Joining Mr Branson at the event will be former Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy, founder of Lastminute.com Martha Lane Fox and Lord Michael Heseltine, former Deputy Prime Minister and founder of the Haymarket publishing group.
Liverpool is the first city in Europe to hold the event, previous venues including Dubai, Shanghai and Kansas City.
The Congress is hosted by Liverpool Vision, the city’s economic development company, Global Entrepreneurship Week and the Kauffman Foundation – the world’s largest foundation dedicated to entrepreneurship.
Max Steinberg, CEO of Liverpool Vision, said he was thrilled to be the host city for the congress and was delighted that Mr Branson was able to attend.
He said: “Global Entrepreneurship Congress is a landmark international event and we are thrilled to be the host city for 2012.
“When we secured this prestigious event we wanted to attract a wide range of entrepreneurs and Sir Richard Branson is a major capture for Liverpool’s GEC and adds yet another outstanding name to a stellar list of speakers and participants.
“To welcome an entrepreneur like Sir Richard Branson to the city is an honour as we aim to be a winning city for enterprise.
“The Congress forms a key part of our ambition to encourage and celebrate entrepreneurship in Liverpool and create a meaningful legacy for the city.”
The GEC is also being supported by Liverpool Community College, Liverpool Community Health, Liverpool John Moores University, ARUP and Cosmopolitan Housing.
Tickets to the event are available from March 13 on www.gec2012.com
Disgruntled, Liverpool around 1 month ago