• Visit focussed on trade, culture, tourism, innovation and life sciences
• City region looking to gain stronger foothold in UK’s second biggest export market
• Builds on last year’s Mayoral mission to the north German city state
• Developing partnership to promote the history of The Beatles in Hamburg and how it shaped the band

The delegation, led by Corinna Nienstedt (centre), Head of the State Office in the Senate Chancellery.

A high-level delegation from Hamburg visited the Liverpool City Region as part of work to forge closer cultural and economic ties.

The visit built on existing links between the city region and Hamburg, a city-state within the Federal Republic of Germany with an urban population of around 2.5 million people.

It followed a fact-finding mission led by Mayor Steve Rotheram last year, aimed at gaining a stronger foothold in the UK’s second biggest export market.

The Hamburg delegation looked to build relationships and share experiences around strategic priorities including trade and investment, culture and tourism, innovation and health and life sciences.

Policy experts attended presentations and networking events designed to showcase the city region’s visitor economy, cutting-edge research, scientific innovation and high-tech businesses.

The delegation also visited Sci-Tech Daresbury, universities and the award-winning Beatles Story Museum.

Further talks took place around promoting shared links to the Beatles – who cut their teeth as a band in Hamburg before going on to achieve worldwide fame.

Katherine Fairclough, Chief Executive of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“We are very pleased to welcome a high-level delegation from Hamburg to the city region. This follows on from our very successful Mayoral visit to Hamburg last year and is focused on developing closer links between us.

“This visit will cement our partnership, promote and deliver joint projects with real and tangible benefits for our two cities, in areas as diverse as tourism, health and life sciences, academic collaborations and, of course, the Beatles!

Last year’s mayoral mission to Hamburg strengthened trade and investment ties – linking German businesses and trade associations with the Liverpool City Region. Representatives discussed public transport and urban mobility, decarbonisation, green hydrogen and Hamburg’s approach to climate change, biodiversity and Net Zero.

The Hamburg delegation looked to build on this work with another similarly packed schedule of meetings and networking events.

Discussions took place with the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University aimed at maximising international cooperation.

A tour of Sci-Tech Daresbury, the North of England’s only national science and innovation campus, explored the potential for collaboration with the Northern Germany life science hotspot, Life Sciences Nord.

There was also a presentation by the city region’s pioneering new visitor economy partnership which was set up this year to develop the visitor economy via strategic partnerships and marketing initiatives.

Talks also took place around the city region potentially joining Hamburg’s annual Hafengeburtstag festival, a huge international maritime event which this year celebrated the port’s 835^th birthday.