Foreign Direct Investment Mission to London Delivers Message: “Business is Better in Tampa Bay”
June 4, 2025, London: U.S. Commercial Attaché Christina Kelly welcomed nearly 100 business leaders representing the United Kingdom and the Tampa Bay Region to an elegant reception at the U.S. Embassy. The event concluded a week-long Foreign Direct Investment mission led by Global Tampa Bay, during which a 20-member Tampa Bay delegation strengthened ties with UK-based companies and reinforced Tampa Bay’s position as a premier destination for international investment.
Highlighting the mission, Tampa Bay economic development leaders met with 15 London-based companies actively exploring U.S. expansion. Says Pinellas County Economic Development’s Brent Barkway, “There’s a lot of interest from businesses in the UK looking to grow their operations in the U.S. and we want them to be thinking of the Tampa Bay area for those expansions. Being here, in person, gives us an edge over other areas in the U.S. competing for these opportunities. There’s no substitute for holding conversations in real time to present the benefits of locating to our area.”
Tampa-based ExportAction assists UK companies to establish business in the U.S. CEO Roger Frampton joined the London mission delegation to extol the virtues of doing business in the U.S. and explore further opportunities to grow his company. He explains, “UK exports of goods and services to the U.S. in 2024 were $71.77 billion – making it, by far, the UK’s largest export market. The quality of Florida education and labor force are second-to-none, and access to Florida from the UK is plentiful and affordable. Our goal in participating in this FDI mission was to share the message that extending UK business in the Tampa Bay area is easy, effective, and profitable. The visit delivered on that in abundance. I would be pleased to participate again in the future.”
Key to the success of this FDI mission to London was the theme of partnership: Global Tampa Bay (GTB) represents a collaboration between Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED), the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, and the Pasco Economic Development Council. The three organizations work in tandem to increase international business opportunities for companies across the region. For this visit to London, GTB also partnered with Visit St. Petersburg-Clearwater (VSPC) and Visit Florida to add regional tourism to the mission’s industry focus. “Cultivating international business relations is an important part of our mission,” says PCED Director Dr. Cynthia Johnson, “and that extends to our partners at VSPC and Visit Florida, as well. Working together, we can all capitalize on opportunities that benefit both economic development target industries and tourism.”
This was Global Tampa Bay’s fourth Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) mission to London, and it has been heralded as its most successful yet. Brent Barkway attests, “Every time we conduct this trip, we do it better. Initial connections made on previous visits have developed now into effective business relationships. The trust that comes with that increases opportunities for U.S. and UK businesses to grow through cooperative trade.”
Dr. Johnson agrees, stating, “We engaged in direct and promising discussions with a diverse range of international companies, strategically presenting the Tampa Bay Region as an ideal destination for future investment and solidifying the area’s role as a primary gateway for transatlantic growth. We are confident that we have planted the seeds, which will undoubtedly grow into new foreign direct investment and the creation of high-value jobs for our communities.”
Ready to explore international trade opportunities for your business? Contact Brent Barkway at bbarkway@pinellas.gov for personalized assistance
About Global Tampa Bay
Global Tampa Bay is a regional collaboration between the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, Pinellas County Economic Development, and the Pasco Economic Development Council. Its mission is to increase international business opportunities for companies within the region and to market the region globally as a top business destination. For more information on future trade missions, visit www.globaltampabay.com.
About Pinellas County Economic Development
Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) works with existing businesses to encourage expansion and seeks to attract new companies with high-wage careers to our community. Through investment tools, business classes, professional consulting services, trade missions to open new markets, and strategic partnerships, PCED fosters a pro-business environment and promotes the ideal business climate of Pinellas County, Florida. Learn more at www.pced.org.
