Inward investment, a term often used interchangeably with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), refers to cross-border investment from one country to another and which aims to establish a lasting interest and effective voice in an enterprise. In FDI statistics, an effective voice means owning 10% or more of the equity share capital in an enterprise.
The UK ranks among the most successful countries in Europe for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects and the UK Government has signalled its intention to strengthen the UK’s offer for businesses and investors. However, Wales has struggled to attract the same level of inward investment as other nations and regions in the UK - in 2023 to 2024, it attracted roughly 3.5% of the UK's total FDI projects, less than Scotland (8.35%) and the North East of England (4.48%).
This inquiry is looking at how ‘Brand Wales’ is promoted internationally to market Wales as a competitive destination for inward investment, and what lessons can be learnt from success stories in the creative industries and sports sectors.
- How can Wales build on the success of its creative industries and sports sectors to attract inward investment?
- How effectively is the ‘Welsh brand’ articulated and marketed to international audiences?
- What barriers exist to promote Wales internationally as a destination for inward investment?
- How well supported are Welsh businesses to attract inward investment?
- How can inward investment be leveraged so that it delivers and supports sustainable, local benefit and prosperity?
- Are there international examples of effective investment promotion campaigns that can inform Wales’s approach to attracting inward investment?