A global property convention in Cannes has been postponed after local authorities confirmed a woman tested positive for coronavirus yesterday.
MIPIM is the world's leading real estate market event and businesses from Manchester have been exhibiting for the last 20 years.
Around 95 partners from Greater Manchester, including property firms and architects, were due to be attending the conference which hosts around 23,000 people from around the world.
But the convention's organisers, Reed Midem, took the decision to postpone after consulting with the World Health Organisation, the French Government, the City of Cannes and Nice airport over the outbreak of COVID-19 .
A spokesperson for Manchester at MIPIM said: "The health, wellbeing and safety of Manchester at MIPIM delegates is our number one priority and we fully support Reed Midem in the decision to cancel next week’s event. In the spirit of collaboration we would ask for your continued support as we work out next steps.
Sir Richard Leese , leader of Manchester City Council and MIPIM lead: “Whilst we are undoubtedly disappointed about the postponement of MIPIM, owing to the huge amount of work and planning that we always put in to make the Manchester Pavilion an informative and effective business destination within the overall MIPIM programme, it is absolutely the right decision given how things currently stand.
“Our international profile is hugely important and MIPIM plays a significant role in helping us showcase Manchester on the world stage. We are fully committed to our international strategy and will do everything we can to continue our momentum. In the meantime I ask that you please adhere to the values of the Manchester at MIPIM Partnership and support the delivery team at Marketing Manchester as they deal with the important task of mitigating the impact of postponement.”
It will now be held on 2-5 June 2020.
Yesterday Nice's mayor Christian Estrosi said a woman has tested positive for coronavirus at Nice University Hospital.
The woman is believed to be a 23-year-old fashion student who recently returned from a trip to Milan, Italy.
