Study reveals Scotland tops foreign investment league

Thursday, 02 February 2012 00:12

The SNP has welcomed a report showing Scotland has topped a table for attracting foreign companies to invest – ahead of every other region in the UK outside London.

Cardiff Business School Study says Scotland attracted an average of nine per cent of new UK inward investment projects between 2005-10, far above the 6.8% of North West England ranked in second position.

Stuart McMillan, SNP MSP for West Scotland and member of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, said:

“This is a fantastic report that shows Scotland has and continues to attract foreign companies to invest in our country. Topping the list underlines that fact that Scotland is an attractive place to do business.

“This report comes on the back of Samsung Heavy Industries announcing yesterday it was investing in a £100m offshore wind project, creating 500 jobs in Fife.

“Scotland is recognised worldwide as a front runner in the renewables industry – and it is clear from the Cambridge report other businesses share the view that companies benefit by setting up in Scotland.

“There is a lot of interest in this country and this report lays bare the scaremongering by the anti-independence parties that the question of Scotland’s constitutional future is creating uncertainty for businesses.”

Comments

# km 2012-02-02 08:57

This report covers period up to 2010. I get the distinct impression that this inward investment to Scotland is accelerating. Any links to the full report, and how far we are behind London?

Incidentally, the title is a tad misleading.... Scotland "tops" foreign investment league, whereas we were only second...

# Wee-Scamp 2012-02-02 10:49

This is not good news because it tells us we're still not investing anything like enough ourselves. Companies come here because there's little competition.

# Scandascot 2012-02-02 12:01

The headline that Scotland "Tops" foreign investment is a bit misleading, as the report excludes London and the SE of England, which attracted much more investment than Scotland

There's more detail at: bbc.co.uk/.../...

and the whole report can be read at:
scribd.com/.../...

# Old Smokey 2012-02-03 10:32

So let me get this straight, Scotland was the top honcho for investment, sitting right at the top, but is not reported on BBC's Scotland page, but is inadvertantly reported on the Wales page as it looks bad for Wales
You really couldnt make this stuff up
The possitive bit about that kind of reporting is that Plaid Cymru can use this against Labour in Wales as an example that Scotland is progressing and Wales isnt

# DonaldMhor 2012-02-03 11:09

Quoting Scandascot:

The headline that Scotland "Tops" foreign investment is a bit misleading, as the report excludes London and the SE of England, which attracted much more investment than Scotland

There's more detail at: bbc.co.uk/.../...

and the whole report can be read at:
scribd.com/.../...

If you are in the top three of any group in sport or in most activities it is quite reasonable to say you are in the "top's." In my humble opinion. To use semantics on this hides that fact that Scotland has, despite the malicious propaganda of the anti Independence parties continued to attract investment.

When you look at the antics of the Citi group, and the treachery of Iain McMillan, whose CBI is being used as a political platform for this Tory dinosaur, you have to admit that this is a very significant poke in the eye for these anti Scottish quislings. Joan McAlpine got it 100% when she labelled these groups "anti Scottish."

If you are prepared to perpetuate a lie to try and score cheap nasty political points and damage your countries trade and commerce, then you deserve to be called anti Scottish , and much much worse. They are despicable nasty cheap people of the lowest order. No wonder they become so hysterical when their treachery is pointed out to them.

In many countries in the world these people would be rounded up and shot. I am not suggesting that but they should be brought to account for their lies.

Unionism is anti Scottish. It damages Scotland. I am confident if Fred the Shed was English and had been the head of Barclay's he would still have his Knighthood.

# creag an tuirc 2012-02-02 19:30

Yeah, I think lots of companies will be getting in early because after independence, we will have so much investment we will be knocking it back.

I expect investment to rise over the next two years. The SG have a good deal for investors within the status quo, but can promise a great deal in an independent Scotland.

Saor Alba like a phoenix from the ashes.

# balbeggie 2012-02-03 11:04

Very interesting article in Der Speigel.

spiegel.de/.../...

# GrassyKnollington 2012-02-03 17:28

Thanks for that. Good article my only beef with it being the use of the term separatists. I wonder if that was the term used for independence supporters in the article before it was translated into English.

# parsonrussell 2012-02-03 19:35

It is the fact that so many companies involved in renewables see Scotland as an ideal place to develop the new technologies in that field that I see as so promising. It just goes to show that even away from the oil and gas fields we are such an energy rich nation, this will be an invaluable resource in the future, and also (I believe) the reason that Westminster refuses to devolve the Crown estate to Scotland.

# chicmac 2012-02-06 01:00

Good shout Stuart.

# brh206 2012-02-06 08:44

Missed this one on the BBC.

# Ken500 2012-02-07 17:30

Well done Alex and Co

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Study reveals Scotland tops foreign investment league

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