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Invest in Northern cities PM tells south-east Asia

The Prime Minister has urged south-east Asian investors to pump money into the cities of the "Northern Powerhouse".

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PM leads 'Northern Powerhouse' delegation to south-east Asia

The Prime Minister has led the first Northern Powerhouse trade mission to Singapore and Malaysia.

Credit: Press Association

Officials from Leeds City Council and Sheffield University are part of the delegation which also includes representatives from five other Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire groups.

These are:

  • Wosskow Brown Solicitors LLP– Yorks & Humber (Sheffield)
  • Pitman Training Group Ltd (Wetherby)
  • Concept Smoke Screen Ltd (Boston, Lincs)
  • Turner & Townsend –Yorks & Humber (Horsforth, Leeds)
  • West and North Yorkshire Chamber – Yorks & Humber

In total 62 northern companies are in Singapore and Malaysia. The delegation represents a total turnover in excess of £10 billion, with a combined workforce of over 50,000.

The government is committed to ensuring the UK’s northern regions play their part in rebalancing our economy. With so much untapped potential, I’m delighted to be part of this first Northern Powerhouse trade mission – the first of what I hope will be many.

– Prime Minister David Cameron

PM seeks south-east Asian investment in 'Northern Powerhouse'

David Cameron has urged investors from south-east Asia to pump money into the cities of northern England.

Credit: Press Association

The Prime Minister called for foreign investors to "look at Britain in a new way" by considering opportunities in the "Northern Powerhouse" rather than just London.

Mr Cameron made the call in Singapore, where he was joined by Business Secretary Sajid Javid and a delegation of firms and civic leaders from northern cities including Manchester and Leeds.

Speaking at Unilever's base in Singapore, Mr Cameron told potential investors: "I really would encourage you to look at Britain in a new way. There's plenty of investment opportunities, of course, in London and the South East - London, this amazing global city - but look again at the North."

Mr Cameron pointed out that Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles was a "Yorkshireman by blood" as he attempted to woo local investors.

We want to rebalance our country and we want Singaporean and other south-east Asian investors to help us do it. That is what the Northern Powerhouse is all about.

– David Cameron

Mr Cameron added: "From the North Sea to the Singapore Strait, let's get more trade flowing."

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