Deloitte tips India, China and Japan for NW investment

INWARD investment this year into the North West is likely to match 2012’s figure of £1.1bn, with India, Japan and China becoming more active, according to Deloitte.

North West corporate finance partner Paul Lupton believes the ‘hot sectors’ for international investors will be technology and manufacturing.
 
The firm recently published research for 2012, which showed non-UK companies and investors spent £1.15bn on 52 deals in the North West.

Mr Lupton said: “I expect to see a similar level of activity in 2013. Last year, Europe and the US were the key investors into the UK, and they will still be important in 2013.

“However, I anticipate increasing flows of capital from the BRIC countries (India and China especially), particularly in technology and manufacturing, as these economies look to access technology and innovation that can be replicated in their domestic economies.
 
“In addition to BRIC countries investing in the UK we are seeing a significant appetite from Japan for high-growth assets.”

Activity will not be one-way traffic either, with some North West corporates looking to invest in new fast-growing markets.

Mr Lupton said access to key raw materials and cheap energy may also be attractive factors for potential overseas investment.
 
“We are working with a leading North West corporate looking to invest in a new manufacturing facility in the Middle East. This not only provides adjacency to some key raw materials and cheaper energy but also provides a useful platform to build sales into India and China,” he added.