A TRADE mission is hoping its visit to the United States will have created enough interest to lure more major American financial and professional services companies to invest in the city.

Tuesday night's networking event at the British consul general's Manhattan residence put the city firmly on the map as a top business location, according to a number of key US bosses.

Among the names in the frame for possible future investment is banking giant Standard Chartered, and the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation.

Jim Wolf, vice chairman of Standard Chartered said he was "very impressed" with what Manchester has to offer.

He told the M.E.N. that it was a possibility that his organisation would follow The Bank of New York's lead and come to Manchester. "I have been very impressed with what I have seen and heard about Manchester. I know the Bank of New York well and the fact that they have made the decision to go is certainly impressive."

Although he has yet to visit Manchester, Mr Wolf said that based on what he had heard, he was looking "more favourably" on Manchester.

Delighted

"I have met with a number of people in investment and development in Manchester and learned things that I did not know before and I have been impressed to hear of the things that are going on in workforce development and education, I would be very favourable."

Mr Wolf said that if he were asked to make a decision on investing in the city, he would have to visit for himself to "touch and feel what's going on there for himself."

Private equity firm boss James McLaughlin said the networking event had put Manchester on the map in New York. He said: "I learned a lot tonight in terms of the city's technological heritage. Until now I had not been aware that the Bank of New York had opened a hub there and it is very interesting."

Robert McGrail, executive managing director of the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, a finance house with over 2,000 staff in New York, described The Bank of New York's move as a "very big coup" for Manchester

"We have a strong relationship with the Bank and they are very shrewd people. This event has raised Manchester's profile in New York."

Gary Holter, chief financial officer of Creditors Interchange, a fast- growing consumer and commercial debt recovery company, said his company too, was impressed that Manchester had attracted the Bank of New York, and would also be looking at expansion in the UK.

"I am definitely impressed. I expect the bank went through a rigorous selection process before deciding to go there, and it's an area that we believe we have interest expanding to in the near future."

Among the guests was Wes Wesley, chief executive of SMG, the US company that owns the MEN Arena.

Mr Wesley was invited to carry the flag for Manchester as a great place to do business by city council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein.

He said: "This event raises Manchester's profile up a notch and I am pleased to be here to share our positive experiences of working there."

Delegates from the Manchester Partnership, including Neil Fountain, chief executive of inward investment agency MIDAS and Sir Howard himself, said they had been "delighted" with both the turnout at the event and the response to Manchester from the American guests.

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