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I'm delighted that the prevalent view among people I've talked to during my whirlwind tour of MIPIM is one that recognises that London and the UK are at the heart of the international property world.



Of course, we're not perfect, and the key issue that comes up time and time again is infrastructure. In many ways, we're victims of our own success. We have a world-class system but our continuing growth places strain on a design first formulated by the Victorians - or indeed, in some cases, the Romans.


Improvements such as Crossrail (pictured) will be vital in helping us to deliver the capacity needed over the coming years. Infrastructure pays for itself, so we should be counter-cyclical and put in the investment now, before our rivals close the gap. In fact, £1 spent on construction brings £2.84 back into the economy.


Of course, opportunities in this area don't come much bigger than the Olympic Games. London 2012 will showcase us to billions of people across the world and, hopefully, deliver a sustainable legacy for us all.



Infrastructure and real estate go hand-in-hand. When I'm involved in big infrastructure projects or buildings, we use insurers, bankers, hedging, swaps and so on. There's not a single instrument of trade and finance that we don't use.


So, as a lord mayor from the demand side of financial services - a client - I'll be challenging the City to work closely with the property industry for our mutual benefit.


Michael Bear is Lord Mayor of the City of London

It may be an atypically cloudy and cool Cannes at MIPIM this year, but a real highlight, as always, is seeing some of the stands off the beaten track.

Of course, most delegates come to visit the likes of London, Paris, and - judging by the popularity of their bags - Lyon. But there are always some hidden gems and I was delighted to meet the president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame (pictured), at the Kigali stand this afternoon.

As lord mayor, a large portion of my time - over 90 days in more than 20 different countries - is spent overseas promoting the UK financial and business services industry. So getting all these nations under one roof here saves me time - if nothing else!

But, having been born in Kenya and educated in South Africa, Africa is especially close to my heart. In fact, on leaving that continent behind I arrived in London with £200 in my pocket and only a single introduction.

I know that Africa offers almost limitless opportunities. Some economists have even said that the 21st century may be an "African century" because of the scale of development available on the continent.

But I also know that some countries are way ahead of the continent in developing business opportunities.

That's why it's pleasing to see President Kagame's "Vision 2020" for his country helping to attract investment across the board - notably real estate and infrastructure. Both are key drivers of economic growth. The City has the expertise and capital to help facilitate these ambitious plans.

Michael Bear is Lord Mayor of the City of London

I've been a regular at MIPIM for over 20 years but it's still always an exciting time for all those connected with the property world - especially now that confidence is coming back across the industry.
 
MIPIM offers a chance to meet old friends and see new faces in between talking businesses. People who don't know any better often deride it as an excuse to enjoy the Cannes sunshine but, in reality, it means long hours and hard work. There's simply no better forum to meet all the major decision-makers - even if the number of delegates has fallen from a peak of 29,000 in 2008.
 
So, what story does the City have to tell today?
 
Property is one of City's key success stories. Building infrastructure and innovative architecture that fits into the City's historic street pattern has allowed us to become a magnet for financial services worldwide. The contrast between old and new is stark - you only have to compare the Georgian architecture of Mansion House and the cutting-edge design of the Gherkin.
 
And we're still growing, with a predicted increase of City working population to more then 400,000 over the next 10-15 years. The City experiences a 3,500% increase in its population every day owing to the influx of workers, and a new generation of visionary architecture - with unusual names such as the Shard, Cheesegrater and Helter Skelter - will help to replenish our office stock. In fact, a further 18m sq ft is in the pipeline.
 
Boris - in his own unique way - helped us bang the drum for London today and I was delighted to follow him on stage. It's always been my belief that reward follows quality, and the UK is a world leader when it comes to property.
 
Michael Bear is Lord Mayor of the City of London

As the first Lord Mayor of the City of London to be drawn from the property development world in living memory, I'm delighted to be visiting MIPIM with the UK at centre stage as this year's Country of Honour.

My background in regeneration, infrastructure and engineering has shown me how important property is to the success of our economy. Buildings are in my bones and, in fact, as my wife often says, talking to me is like talking to a brick wall!

The UK has a well-earned reputation among the international real estate community as industry leaders and collectors of best practice.

What does that mean, exactly? Well, first, we're home to the best architects, construction managers, civil engineers and other related professionals. These people - many of whom are here at MIPIM - have gained the expertise and experience of what works when it comes to development across the globe.

Second, we continue to play a key role in setting internationally recognised standards, whether it's through the RICS, the adoption of IPD indices, or the use of BREEAM to benchmark sustainability of buildings.

And, third, confidence that London's property market is on an upward curve is coming back. With the new iconic towers under construction in the City of London, combining with our unique medieval street pattern, we will continue to lead the way in attracting global occupiers to our financial capital.

Property is one of the City's key success stories. Building infrastructure and innovative architecture has allowed us to become a magnet for financial services worldwide. We'll be working hard to sell ourselves as the real City of Choice - the theme of my Mayoralty - to the world this week.

Michael Bear is Lord Mayor of the City of London