It was almost a case of “if we release it, they will buy”, at MIPIM UK yesterday as trade and investment minister Francis Maude gave his keynote address.
Maude, who spearheaded the selling-off of public sector land while minister for the Cabinet Office, called on overseas investors to put their money in the “most attractive market in Europe”.
He pointed to the country’s investment in infrastructure, highly-skilled workforce and connectivity as reasons “no country is better placed to offer you a return on your investment than Britain”.
He said Britain was “the most open, welcoming and business-friendly country in which to do business in the world”, highlighting its advantageous tax regime, streamlined decision-making and world-ranking universities as draws for investors.
Maude said the interest in UK real estate from international and domestic investors should mean that government will be able to get out of more real estate and release it into the private sector, where it will be used more productively.
And he was optimistic about Britain’s potential to continue attracting foreign investment.
“We think Britain is a fantastic place to invest,” he said. “It is a great place to do business in and from. You can do business across a whole time zone – you can trade with Asia in the morning, America in the afternoon. English is the international language in business. And we have created the best placed environment for business in the world.”
As a delegation of Chinese business leaders descended on MIPIM UK to coincide with president Xi Jinping’s state visit, Maude pledged to continue to promote Britain to worldwide investors and make the country the “most business-friendly” in Europe.
“We are not resting on our laurels, but building on them, and what we are saying here today is that Britain abounds in opportunities for regeneration, to make peoples’ lives better, but also for investors to make a good return on their money – so doing good and making money at the same time,” said Maude. “And Britain will benefit from this. It is great to see so many people here who want to benefit from the opportunities in Britain.”
Click here to listen to an interview with Maude
