MIPIM UK 2015: The trade and investment minister has said more government property needs to be sold off as he called for foreign investors to put their money in the “most attractive market in Europe”.
Francis Maude, who spearheaded the selling-off of public sector land as minister for the Cabinet Office, encouraged investors to engage with local authorities and developers during his keynote speech at MIPIM UK 2015 on Wednesday.
Speaking after the address, he said: “We need to cut the cost of government even further. That means that the government will be able to get out of more real estate, out of more property and release it into the private sector, where it will be used more productively.”
He said the Matt Hancock, the current minister for the Cabinet Office, who took over in May, should “keep going, keep at it and don’t listen to the nay-sayers”.
Maude said he was optimistic about Britain’s potential to continue attracting foreign investment. He said: “We think Britain is a fantastic place to invest. It is a great place to do business in and from. You can do business across a whole timezone – you can trade with Asia in the morning, America in the afternoon.
“English is the international language in business. And we have created the best placed environment for business in the world.
“The World Bank has said of all the G7 countries, of all the countries in the EU, Britain is the easiest place to do business.”
His address coincides with the state visit of China’s president to the UK.
Asked about the significance of the visit, Maude said: “It is very positive. We are at the beginning of a really strong era of collaboration and warmth in relationship. I was in China last week, I saw that goodwill… but also enormous admiration for the work the government has done in creating economic conditions in which people can invest successfully and create businesses here in Britain.”
Maude pledged to continue to promote Britain to worldwide investors and make the country the “most business-friendly” in Europe.
“We are not resting on our laurels, but building on them, and what we are saying here today is that Britain abounds in opportunities for regeneration, to make people’s lives better, but also for investors to make a good return on their money – so doing good and making money at the same time. And Britain will benefit from this. It is great to see so many people here who want to benefit from the opportunities in Britain.”
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