Newport Unlimited stepped up its drive to attract further inward investment to Newport when it launched a virtual animation DVD at the MIPIM property conference in France last month.

The urban regeneration company showcased Newport with the help of the DVD to representatives from the European property industry with a view to exciting their interest in Wales' newest city as a potential location for development.

The promotion animation takes viewers on a fly-through of Newport, illustrating with the aid of computer graphics how the city will change over the next 15-20 years.

Featured on the DVD is the £200m retail scheme, the £150m redevelopment of Old Town Dock, the new office districts at George Street and the £20m face lift of the railway station. John Burrows, chief executive of Newport Unlimited, said: "MIPIM is the key event in the property calendar, attended by well over 17,000 participants, and is an ideal opportunity to get in front of people who make crucial investment decisions. "It can sometimes be difficult to visualise the development potential of cities - but our DVD helps others to do just that. "It will certainly assist us as we go head to head with other major cities in UK and Europe who will all be vying for a slice of the lucrative property investment market." Newport Unlimited attended MIPIM with partner organisation, the Welsh Development Agency.

Mr Burrows said: "We have already piloted the DVD among key contacts in the market and have received extremely positive feedback. We are confident that it will go down well with the property professionals in Europe."

Newport Unlimited is a partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government, the Welsh Development Agency and Newport City Council to transform the fortunes of Newport by turning it into a thriving centre for business, shopping, leisure and living.

Over the next five years alone, it will be rolling out more than 60 projects in 15 priority areas, which will attract well over £500m in private sector investment and create 5,000 new jobs.

MIPIM takes place every March in the south of France. It is the world's leading real estate event, bringing together key industry decision makers from 74 countries around the world.