Inward investment climate remains buoyant

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Andrew Cahn, UK Trade & Investment’s chief executive, confirmed the UK is making good progress in its five-year plan to attract inward investment and support British firms looking to trade abroad.

We have a very open economy; we have stable politics […]; we have a clear, reliable regulatory system; and we have a hugely strong research and development base

Andrew Cahn

Chief Executive

UKTI

Mr Cahn dismissed the ongoing global slowdown and issues such as the nationalisation of Northern Rock and highlighted that the UK still remains a leading location for business.

He revealed that UKTI figures, due to be published in July, show these factors have not affected the amount of inward investment to the country and predicted that 2008-09 will prove to be another record year.

Saying the UK was a "very good product to sell", Mr Cahn told the newspaper: "It changes constantly but the fundamentals remain the same: we have a very open economy; we have stable politics compared with most of the world; we have a clear, reliable regulatory system; and we have a hugely strong research and development base.”

The role of Trade and Investment Minister Lord Digby Jones was also praised with Mr Cahn noting the amount of time Lord Jones spends promoting the UK overseas with trade delegations.

Last week, it was revealed that the UK is the top destination in Europe for foreign direct investment, attracting 19 per cent of all projects on the continent.