Paris and London team up for 'Tale of Two Cities' package

Arch rivals London and Paris will join forces to attract tourists and investment to the two capitals for the first time.

Sadiq Khan and his Parisian counterpart Anne Hidalgo today unveiled a “Tale of Two Cities” package of collaboration to lure visitors and entrepreneurs.

The move — on the eve of Theresa May triggering Article 50 and starting the formal process of withdrawal from the EU — is one of series of initiatives taken to strengthen London’s links with Europe.

Under the terms of the cooperation deal the tourism bodies of London and Paris will jointly promote the cities to overseas visitors from next year. T

ravellers to London and Paris spend more than £30 billion a year and support an estimated 1.2 million jobs. A combined business “welcome programme” will also help small businesses based in one of the capitals invest and set up in the other.

Announcing the agreement during a trade mission to the French capital, Mayor Mr Khan said: “Our great friends in Paris and across the continent are well aware that working closely together remains to our mutual benefit.”

Ms Hidalgo said: “We are developing new exchanges and new projects. All these initiatives will create employment, activity and economic growth.

“It is a very positive dynamic that the Brexit will not change.”

The announcement makes it possible for start-up companies to have joint legal homes in both cities, to ensure entrepreneurs are able to develop businesses.