The 750 largest Chinese-owned firms registered in Britain saw revenue grow by an average 11.6 percent last year, according to Bloomberg, citing a report by Grant Thornton, pushing combined turnover up to £68 billion ($90 billion). The largest gains were seen in manufacturing and financial services, reflecting a Chinese government strategy to invest more in industries with high-end products and know-how.
In real estate, investments dropped significantly amid higher controls of capital outflows. Still, Chinese interest in U.K. real estate remains high, the report said.
“Attractions such as a stable political, legal and social environment endure, while a weak pound and an increasingly difficult environment for Chinese investors in the U.S. and, to some extent, Europe add to the U.K.’s appeal,” the report said.
Chinese investments into the United Kingdom increased last year against the backdrop of an overall drop in global outbound investments from China.
