Edinburgh tops global FDI city table

The award, published by the Financial Times uses official statistics and expert opinions to rank cities and regions with the best prospects for inward investment, economic development and business expansion.

This accolade recognises Edinburgh’s collaboration and strategic alliance with Shenzhen as well as the innovative incubator space provided for creative and tech investment from Shenzhen at the City of Edinburgh Council’s Creative Exchange incubator hub.

It also recognises the Memorandum of Understanding with Innovate Finance to help Edinburgh and London promote technology companies supplying new and innovative software products to the financial sector.

The Council’s role establishing StartEDIN, to help attract additional skilled tech workers to Edinburgh as well as the Council’s digital ‘Edinburgh Hotel Prospectus’, highlighting Edinburgh’s hotel market and key opportunities for hotel operators and developers were also acknowledged.

The award is further great news for the city as last month Edinburgh was awarded British Entrepreneurial City of the Year, ranked third in the Good Growth for Cities Report and voted best city to locate your tech business. The Council also announced last month that Edinburgh is to host EUROCITIES in 2018, welcoming all Europe’s major city leaders to the Capital.

Cllr Gavin Barrie, economy convener, said: “This is yet another fantastic result for Edinburgh and welcome confirmation that our strategy is driving investment to Edinburgh and creating thousands of new jobs. Due to its excellent quality of life and vibrant economyEdinburgh provides an excellent environment for companies of all sizes, both home grown and international, to succeed.

“The city’s rapid growth in the tech sector and start-up scene and increased international reputation coupled with long-standing expertise in finance mean that Edinburgh is well positioned to attract investment.

“In the past 12 months we’ve welcomed over 25 new foreign investors to the city and this award recognises that Edinburgh is regarded as a truly global player.”

Dexcom, San Diego-headquartered continuous glucose monitoring market leader, recently expanded into Europe with the opening of a new product support and research and development office in Edinburgh. Benefitting from soft landing support provided by The City of Edinburgh Council’s Investor Support Team, Dexcom utilised temporary soft landing office space in the Creative Exchange while their new European HQ in the Tanfield tech hub was prepared.

John Lister, general manager, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Dexcom, said: “The first reason we selected Edinburgh as the base for our EMEA HQ was talent. There is a huge talent pool in Edinburgh from a medical, commercial and technical access, which is a pull to companies looking to expand into the UK and Europe. Edinburgh also has a rich history of innovations in the medical field, which, we hope, Dexcom will continue to be a part of.”