A total of 750 companies are expected to secure £100m in export sales over the next two years through the 2014 International Festival for Business (IFB) in Liverpool, according to a new impact study that upgrades previous estimates.
IFB chairman Max Steinberg said that the reassessment "sends a very clear message about the tangible benefits which companies can expect if they attend and engage with IFB2016".
The figures were revealed by Steinberg to an audience of 200 stakeholders from a range of Liverpool city region organisations at ACC Liverpool.
Steinberg reported that 750 businesses are expected to secure £100m in export sales over the next two years through the 2014 event rather than 600 businesses securing £80m as previously thought. He also disclosed that 200 companies secured £250m of investment as a direct result of the event compared to 150 companies securing £200m of investment under the last estimate.
And he said that more than 50 per cent of the companies estimated to have benefitted from IFB2014 were from the North West.
He added: "This reassessment of the impact of IFB2014 sends a very clear message about the tangible benefits which companies can expect if they attend and engage with IFB2016.
"It is an opportunity to meet a global business network, to seek new customers and partners, and to exchange ideas and inspiration."
The second International Festival for Business is due to take place in Liverpool next June when thousands of businesses will gather for three weeks of networking and deal-making. The festival is supported by the UK government, main partner HSBC, global media partner Bloomberg and festival supporters DLA Piper, Heathrow, PwC, Siemens and Virgin Trains.
At the same event, festival creative director Jude Kelly gave delegates an overview of plans for IFB2016.
She said: "The business landscape of this city is made up of an amazing mosaic of enterprises and people, an energetic fabric which is woven throughout the city.
"Liverpool is a place of absolute ambition and is blessed with wit and enterprise so we want to create a festival which matches that culture and a festival where people encounter the unexpected."
Festival director Ian McCarthy added: "The backing of government is of major importance, not just in terms of financial investment but in terms of political will. Both the Chancellor and Prime Minister are proactive and enthusiastic supporters and that is an important message as we continue to attract delegates from all over the world.
"Liverpool shaped IFB and seized the opportunity to create something in 2014 which gave us the confidence to build an even better festival in 2016."