Wales secures £4.6bn in global investment as Newport summit draws 300 international business leaders
Wales secures £4.6bn in global investment as Newport summit draws 300 international business leaders
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Wales has recorded a surge in overseas interest, attracting £4.6bn in global inward investment over the past year as the country prepares to host one of its most high-profile business events in more than a decade.
More than 300 senior industry figures are set to gather in Newport next week for the Wales Investment Summit, a major showcase organised by the Welsh Government and billed as the most significant international gathering in Wales since the 2014 NATO Summit.
The event, taking place on 1 December at the ICC Wales, will welcome investors from 27 countries and highlight opportunities across fast-growing sectors including artificial intelligence, clean energy, semiconductors and the creative industries.
The Welsh Government confirmed that £4.6bn of inward investment has flowed into Wales in the last 12 months, a period ministers say reflects the country’s rising profile in emerging global industries.
First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “In the year since I announced this summit would be happening, Wales has attracted around £4.6bn of inward investment from around the world.
“Events like this provide crucial focus for business and government to work together and make deals that will benefit communities the length and breadth of Wales.
“Wales offers a compelling investment proposition thanks to our world-class infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and a strategic location that provides access to major UK and European markets.
“We’re creating the conditions for businesses to succeed and grow, and Wales is attracting global investment like never before.”
The summit is expected to draw 250 companies, around 150 of which will be new to Wales, providing what officials describe as a pivotal opportunity to establish partnerships and secure long-term commitments.
High-profile Welsh figures including Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas and broadcaster Alex Jones will also take part in welcoming delegates.
Foreign-owned firms already play a significant role in the Welsh economy. The government reports 1,545 overseas companies currently operating in Wales, employing more than 176,500 people.
Momentum in attracting new projects also appears to be accelerating. In 2024–25, Wales secured 65 Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects, a 23% year-on-year increase and the second-fastest growth rate in the UK. Those projects created 2,470 new jobs and safeguarded a further 1,652, the highest figure recorded in any UK nation or region.
Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, said: “From semiconductors in Newport to renewable energy projects across our coastlines, Wales is at the forefront of the industries that will define the next decade.
“Our role as government is to work in partnership with businesses, removing barriers and creating the right conditions for investment to flourish.
“The companies attending the summit will see first-hand why Wales is the smart choice – and we’re ready to turn conversations into commitments.”
The Welsh Government hopes the summit will serve as a catalyst for further international investment and help shape economic growth in the decade ahead.
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