Scotland to host global foreign direct investment conference in 2022

Scotland has been successful in a bid to host a global foreign direct investment conference in 2022.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement that the 19th World Forum for Foreign Direct Investment will come to the country in three years’ time on a trade mission to New York.

Addressing an audience of 40 senior business people at a Scotland Is Now investor lunch, she said: “Scotland’s performance on FDI is exceptionally strong, and an indicator of the talent, skills and ingenuity in our economy.

“Most recent figures show that our increased support for digital, FinTech, Business Services, and manufacturing investment have seen FDI in digital and manufacturing projects jump 56% and 25% respectively from 2016 to 2017. Hosting the 2022 World Forum for FDI will allow us to build on that momentum, firmly positioning Scotland on the global stage.”

The World Forum for FDI is a helps to position the host nation as a leading FDI destination to a global audience. Previously hosted by Shanghai, London and the UAE, among others, it is considered to be the foremost global event dedicated to cross-border investment.

It brings together corporates, location advisers and economic development organisations to discuss the future of the global economy, and what leaders from across the world can do to sustain economic growth, create jobs and improve the quality of life for their citizens.

The Forum is organised by Conway, Inc., one of world’s leading events firms focusing on foreign direct investment and global corporate location trends. Their conferences, forums and seminars focus on FDI trends, looking at where and why global companies, across all sectors, are locating their facilities, and what cities, regions and countries can do to attract companies to their locations.

Conway, Inc. CEO Adam Jones-Kelley, said: “As someone particularly proud of his Scottish heritage I’m especially thrilled to announce that the 2022 World Forum for Foreign Direct Investment will be held in Scotland, one of the most stunning and vibrant countries in the world, and a magnet for foreign direct investment across industry clusters. Scotland’s business-friendly environment and vast appeal as a tourist destination provide the ideal environment for a record-smashing event. My team and I are particularly excited about this one.”

And it’s not just FDI prospects that benefit from hosting the prestigious event; business events are an increasingly significant element in the growth of the global economy, and are an essential part of the spread of knowledge and professional practices. These are key factors in building better understanding and relations between different regions and cultures.

Host sponsor Scottish Enterprise CEO, Steve Dunlop, said: “This is a fantastic win for Scotland. Our exceptional workforce, infrastructure, academic resource and global business network makes Scotland a great place to invest, and events like this present an ideal opportunity to showcase these strengths to potential international investors.”

The World Forum for Foreign Direct Investment was held last year in Liverpool, attracting delegates from 44 countries, and is set to take place in 2019 in Sydney, welcoming over 500 top corporate executives to the city.