The Action Plan aims to increase jobs and investment in the city

The council has unveiled ambitious plans designed to boost Glasgow's economy over the next decade.

High on the agenda is encouraging businesses to trade overseas and compete on a global scale.

An independent audit shows that Glasgow has already moved up two places in a ranking of 35 top European cities.

The findings of the audit, and details of future activities and projects aimed at further boosting Glasgow's international status, were unveiled at the 10th annual State of the City Economy Conference on Friday.

The council said it would offer empty commercial properties rent-free to start-up businesses, as part of an eight-point action plan to increase economic growth.

Senior decision makers were told that Glasgow has moved up two places, to 16th, in a ranking of top European destinations in terms of wealth creation.

However, it still falls short of the top 10 which includes Edinburgh and Dublin.

The number of overseas visitors to Glasgow has also risen substantially to more than 770,000 in 2006.

We have more to do in terms of the creation of new businesses and encouraging a greater level of overseas trade Steven Purcell Leader, Glasgow City Council

Over the next decade up to 9,000 new tourism jobs are projected on the back of continued growth in the city's tourism sector.

City officials were told the infrastructure being put in place the for the Commonwealth Games in 2014, and the games themselves, will be important in achieving this target.

The keynote speaker at the conference was the Secretary of State for Scotland, Des Browne MP.

He said: "The time between now and the Commonwealth Games in 2014 is a seven year golden opportunity for Glasgow and Scotland as we look to tackle some of the outstanding social challenges, and to take the city economy on to the next stage of development."

Bright future

Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "While it is pleasing that the city is moving up the European rankings, we realise we have more to do in terms of the creation of new businesses and encouraging a greater level of overseas trade.

"The 2014 Commonwealth Games provides the city with a fantastic opportunity to use this raised profile to attract even more international business and visitors to Glasgow."

John Gallacher, chair of Glasgow Economic Forum, said: "We can see the city changing faster than ever before.

"Major new transport initiatives, strong growth in our key business sectors, highly successful inward investment, rapidly growing tourism industry - the list goes on - and now we have the Commonwealth Games to drive us forward too."

He added: "The future has never looked brighter."