The minister was given a tour of Peel Ports’ new £400million Liverpool2 container terminal which officially opened only last month.
Representing one of the UK’s largest private sector infrastructure projects, Liverpool2 was developed in response to changing trading patterns and shipping industry trends towards the use of ‘mega’ ocean-going container ships.
David Jones, Minister of State for the Department for Exiting the EU, said:
“Liverpool’s famous docks helped the city became one of the great trading hubs of the world and it was great to visit Peel Ports to hear how they are busier than ever.
“We are absolutely committed to making sure that the UK’s ports can continue to compete freely and fairly with the rest of Europe.
“Just as Liverpool used its ports to carve a place for itself on the world stage, Brexit means we can forge a new role for the UK globally as we pass our own laws, negotiate our own trade agreements and be a positive and powerful force for free trade.”
The Port is the country’s biggest transatlantic port (45% market share) and the only major deep-sea container port in the North of the UK.
Graeme Charnock, Chief Financial Officer Peel Ports Group said: “We welcomed the meeting with the minister and enjoyed showing the delegation around our leading edge Liverpool2 container terminal. We are confident that this investment has strengthened the North West’s link to the rest of the world which in turn is hugely beneficial to the UK economy.
“Liverpool2 is a great example of the private and public sectors coming together to deliver transformational change. The major programme of investment announced by the Government in the Autumn Statement can deliver welcome improvements to the UK’s transport infrastructure. This will be key to our investment and growth plans over the next five years and beyond.”
The terminal is creating an estimated 5,000 direct and indirect jobs, stimulating further growth in the North West and helping to rebalance the UK economy. Liverpool currently has around 8% of the container market in the UK however this figure is expected to rise to between 15% and 20%.
The meeting between Peel Ports and DExEU was the latest in a series of discussions ministers have been having with business leaders across the UK’s key economic sectors.