Figures released by UK Trade and Investment show that 30 of the 57 inward investment projects which regional development agency Yorkshire Forward had a hand in went to South Yorkshire.

Almost half the investments in South Yorkshire came from Asia, with big names like automotive manufacturer Toyoda Gosei and manufacturing giant Kawasaki Heavy Industry strengthening their presence in Rotherham.

The rest of the investment was evenly divided between Europe, the US and the Rest of the World.

About half of the investments were in manufacturing and companies supplying the automotive sector.

"Attracting high quality investment is vital to our regional economy, and this year has seen a significant increase in investments from companies investing heavily in R and D and high tech products and services, creating the jobs and opportunities that will ensure we can meet the challenges of a globalised economy," says Theresa Lindsay, Yorkshire Forward's head of marketing and business development.

"Over the last 12 months a significant number of the investments in South Yorkshire have been by such companies, with Japanese investors for example retaining a strong commitment to R and D in their work.

"Despite current concerns there is no shortage of interest in investment in South Yorkshire and we are attracting companies in the face of stiff global competition.

"Over forty percent of the region's largest companies are foreign owned, so winning increasing levels of expansion projects against stiff international competition, particularly in the current economic climate, is a real endorsement of the strength of our regional economy and our investor development programme."


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