Foreword
By Lord Stockwood, Minister for Investment – Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury.
Foreword
By Lord Stockwood, Minister for Investment – Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury.
The UK Government is committed to attracting high-quality, sustainable foreign direct investment (FDI) that drives productivity and regional growth with new jobs and opportunities for people across the country, whilst strengthening our global competitiveness.
This ambition is underpinned by our Trade Strategy and Modern Industrial Strategy, which focuses on eight priority sectors and reflects the UK’s global strengths in innovation, research, and talent.
These sectors are:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Clean Energy Industries
- Creative Industries
- Defence
- Digital and Technologies
- Financial Services
- Life Sciences
- Professional and Business Services
This ambition is underpinned by our Trade Strategy and Modern Industrial Strategy, which focuses on eight priority sectors and reflects the UK’s global strengths in innovation, research, and talent.
These sectors are:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Clean Energy Industries
- Creative Industries
- Defence
- Digital and Technologies
- Financial Services
- Life Sciences
- Professional and Business Services
We’re equally determined to ensure overseas investment reaches every part of the UK and the new Industrial Strategy Zones, which bring together the strengths of former Freeports and Investment Zones, are central to this ambition. Our recent trade agreements with the United States, India, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) further reinforce our global appeal. These deals have delivered significant investment into the UK, while reducing barriers, deepening supply chain integration and strengthen cooperation in critical sectors. At the same time, we are taking a pragmatic approach to improving our trading relationship with the European Union, our largest export market. The UK Government recognises the global challenges – from economic headwinds to elevated borrowing costs – but we remain confident in the strength of our fundamentals. We offer investors a unique combination of global connectivity, access to skilled talent, and a trusted legal and regulatory framework. The UK is open for business. We stand ready to work with global investors to unlock opportunity, drive innovation, and deliver sustainable growth across every region of the country.

Lord Stockwood
Minister for Investment - Department for Business and Trade and HM Treasury