Putting the region on record
Mar 13 2008 by Jule Wilson, The Journal
INTERNATIONAL business leaders with the potential to transform parts of Newcastle and Gateshead in a radical new approach to development in the cities, have been targeted in a new video aimed at attracting them to the area.
The video, made by the NewcastleGateshead Initiative along with the regional development agency One North East and both Newcastle and Gateshead city councils, has been shown to audiences at the MIPIM conference in Cannes on the French Riviera this week.
The conference, which has attracted more than 25,000 delegates from across the globe, began on Tuesday and property companies are said to have responded well to the drive to encourage their investment in the region. Chief Executive of NGI Andrew Dixon, who is in Cannes, said last night: “The films look fantastic and have gone down very, very well here in France.
“We are hoping the films have meant that the North East will linger in the minds of many of the global names we were hoping to reach.”
The six-minute video has been part of a presentation also featuring a coloured map showing the key areas available for development, a total of 350 hectares on 10 sites across the two cities.
The film features a subtle background track with scores of panoramic views of the areas and footage from a number of key regional events.
Councillor John Shipley, leader of Newcastle City Council, and his counterpart Councillor Roger Kelly from Gateshead City Council speak of their passion for the cities and how they have grown over the years.
The pair are also joined by Margaret Fay, chairman of One North East, who describes Newcastle-Gateshead as an exciting place to live, work, play and study.
A second version of the film featuring much of the same footage with superimposed writing rather than the three interviews has also been shown to delegates as part of the Cannes campaign.
