FIRST Minister John Swinney will attend a major international investment summit in London on Monday.
Hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the summit will bring more than 300 industry leaders together with the aim of boosting growth and investment across the UK.
The First Minister is expected to meet global business leaders and investors to discuss capital and inward investment opportunities in Scotland, with a key focus on renewable energy.
Scotland is already the top UK destination for inward investment outside London.
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Bringing companies to Scotland and continuing the transition to renewables, Swinney said, would help to sustain public services and fight child poverty.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Swinney said: “Scotland has tremendous economic potential between our abundant renewable energy resources, and the skills, knowledge and expertise of the people and companies that work here.
“Events such as this are pivotal to securing the necessary investment to unlock the benefits of that potential, such as the creation of new jobs and business opportunities for people right across the country.
“It is this kind of growth, backed by the investment certainty that our Green Industrial Strategy provides, which will help power progress on the Scottish Government’s priorities.
“While Scotland is already the top UK destination for foreign direct investment outside London, there remains much more to do to achieve our aims.”
According to the latest EY UK Attractiveness Survey from July this year, Scotland remained the most attractive place in the UK to invest after London for the ninth year running.
It is the only part of the UK to record growth for five consecutive years, with a record 142 inward investment projects secured in 2023.
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