Foreign direct investment has been very much in focus in the last week, both at a Scottish level and for Glasgow City Region.

As part of The Herald’s major series, Glasgow: The Next Chapter, I revealed that Glasgow City Region has achieved a 7% rise in the number of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the latest five years, and associated capital expenditure and job creation have surged.

These increases, compared with the five years to April 2021, are revealed in new analysis of fDi Markets’ data by Glasgow City Council, in response to questions from The Herald.

And they make for heartening reading for anyone who wants to see Scotland’s largest city and surrounding areas thrive.

In the five years to April 2026, Glasgow City Region recorded 149 FDI projects. This is up from 139 projects in the five years to April 2021.

Recorded FDI capital expenditure for the region in the latest five-year period was £3.66bn. This is up by 99% from £1.84bn in the five years to April 2021. 

And the total number of FDI jobs for the five years to April 2026 totalled 9301. This is up 50% on the figure of 6188 for the previous five years.

It was interesting to hear what Sam Barnett, head of Glasgow City Council’s Invest Glasgow arm, had to say about the city’s attractions to overseas investors.

She told The Herald: “Investors are drawn to places with ambition, authenticity and the ability to deliver. They want confidence that growth will happen - and that people will want to live and work there too.

"Glasgow understands its economy and as a result is strategically attracting and aligning........

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