UK beats rest of Europe for foreign investment award at the United Nations World Investment Forum 2014

The UK has received an award from the United Nations for its success in attracting foreign investment.

 

UK Trade & Investment, the government department that aims to help UK-based companies succeed in the global economy, won the award on Monday at the opening of the 2014 United Nations World Investment Forum in Geneva.

 

The event is organised by UNCTAD – the United Nations body responsible for development and trade. It was set up to “recognise and celebrate” achievements of the world's investment promotion agencies (IPAs).

 

This year's awards were presented for “excellence in promoting Foreign Direct Investment for sustainable development”. 

 

A group of 31 projects from 29 agencies worldwide were short-listed for the awards, but the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) was this year's only European winner.

 

The result is likely to provide a boost to those who support UK independence from the rest of the European Union, since it highlights the UK's strength in foreign investment compared to the rest of the bloc. 

 

“The award reflects both the professional expertise of UKTI and also the attractiveness of the UK as a place to invest,” said Dominic Jermey, chief executive of UKTI.