Shanghai offers an emerging market

Cork’s docklands and the major Chinese city of Shanghai currently consume the mind of Cork City Council’s director of economic development, Pat Ledwidge.

Shanghai’s mayor Ying Yong arrives this week for a visit to Cork and Mr Ledwidge, who is also deputy chief executive of the local authority, is determined that Cork enhances its economic links with a city of 24 million people that is also one of the world’s major financial services centres, and home to the world’s busiest container port.

At the same time, the development of Cork’s docklands in a €1bn transformation that would see the construction of thousands of housing units and offices, as well as bridges and road upgrades, is foremost in the thoughts of Mr Ledwidge.