The United Kingdom plans to open an office in San Diego as part of an expansion intended to boost its investment opportunities and trade with the United States.
The San Diego location will be among three new offices in U.S. cities chosen “because of their economic productivity and well-established research and development institutions,” according to a news release from the British government. The other cities receiving new offices are Minneapolis and Raleigh, N.C.
Liam Fox, the UK’s secretary of state for international trade and president of its Board of Trade, announced the plan Tuesday in Chicago.
“I am delighted that we are opening a new office in San Diego,” Fox said. “Given its importance as a hub of research, life sciences, military and other key industries, it makes sense for the UK to strengthen our ties and work even more closely on trade and investment opportunities.”
Each of the offices is to be staffed by a single officer recruited in the United States. Besides promoting UK business and economic ties with the United States, they are intended to boost the two countries’ political relationship, according to the news release.
“The offices will be ideally placed to build relationships with key companies, politicians and educational (centers) and to support wider goals on economic reform, market access, innovation and climate change,” the release stated.
Other cities in which the UK has similar offices are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
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According to the UK government, its Seattle office has supported about £8 million ($10.5 million) in investment during the past year, as well as 1,000 UK jobs.
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