REPRESENTATIVES from the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal will fly out to a business conference in France to try and attract investment to south east Wales.

Caerphilly council’s leader and interim chief executive, David Poole and Christina Harrhy, will attend the Marche International des Professionals d’Immobilier (MIPIM) in Cannes in March.

They will be joined on the visit by colleagues from Monmouthshire, Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Bridgend councils to showcase the £1.2 billion scheme.

South Wales Argus: Councillor David Poole and Christina Harrhy, Caerphilly council's leader and interim chief executiveCouncillor David Poole and Christina Harrhy, Caerphilly council's leader and interim chief executive

More than 26,000 people, including potential investors, developers and journalists, are expected to attend what is billed as the ‘world’s premier real estate event’.

Cllr Poole said: “This presents a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the Cardiff Capital Region to a global audience at a renowned industry event.

“We must be proactive in the way we market and promote the region in order to attract the jobs and investment that will transform South East Wales in the future.”

READ MORE: 

Ms Harrhy also hopes the visit will be used to showcase Caerphilly, which plays a ‘pivotal part in the City Deal’.

“Economically, we are not where we want to be in Caerphilly and we have a big gap between prosperity and poverty, which we want to close,” she said.

South Wales Argus: Visitors to last year's MIPIM in Cannes. Picture: S. ChampeauxVisitors to last year's MIPIM in Cannes. Picture: S. Champeaux

“We need investors and they’re not going to come knocking on my door, so we’ve got to go and look for it.

“We’re not doing deals there, that happens afterwards. This is about establishing relationships and making those links work.”

READ MOREFour-star hotel near Caerphilly Castle could boost town's tourism trade

The delegation will support the launch of an investment plan and industrial strategy for the City Deal at MIPIM.

In September, the City Deal’s regional cabinet agreed to fund £30,000 towards securing a stand at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, and to meet the costs of marketing materials and running fringe events.

Other regions in the UK including Leeds, Greater Manchester, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bristol and Bath have attended the event in recent years.