West Yorkshire is an internationally ambitious region and is committed to developing relationships with key global markets.
We want our region to be recognised globally as a strong, successful economy where everyone can build great businesses, careers and lives. To this end, we work internationally to raise awareness of West Yorkshire's critical assets, growth plans, and trade and investment opportunities.
The region has a significant focus on emerging markets, particularly China and India. Both countries have undergone considerable economic change and social transformation over the past ten years, and have fast-growing economies, representing the second, and the fifth largest economies in the world respectively. They are also home to major international businesses looking to explore new markets.
China and India are home to a rapidly growing middle class, who are increasingly demanding high quality European goods and services. This represents a huge opportunity for West Yorkshire businesses who are looking to internationalise and sell into these markets.
Expanding and deepening our trade relationships with these major markets is key to supporting business growth and recovery as we transition from Europe and meet the challenges presented by the global pandemic.
China has become a global economic powerhouse and by 2025 is set to become the world’s number one economic superpower. It is an important trading partner for the UK, with over £100 billion in bilateral trade taking place in 2019. China is a key priority market for West Yorkshire and many of our international businesses.
As one of the world’s largest economies and democracies, India is a powerhouse that will play a major role in shaping the world in the coming decades. India is the second largest investor in the UK and a vital trading partner, making it a key priority market for West Yorkshire and many of our international businesses.