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UK climbs FDI rankings on AI and clean energy booms, McKinsey says

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on January 15, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: January 19, 2026

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UK climbs FDI rankings on AI and clean energy booms, McKinsey says
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LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Britain has moved up the rankings as a destination for new foreign direct investment, helped by growth in artificial intelligence and clean energy, but needs to do more to

UK Advances in FDI Rankings Driven by AI and Clean Energy Growth

UK's Foreign Direct Investment Growth

LONDON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Britain has moved up the rankings as a destination for new foreign direct investment, helped by growth in artificial intelligence and clean energy, but needs to do more to attract other types of investment, consultancy McKinsey said.

Current FDI Rankings

The United Kingdom was the world's third-largest destination for newly announced FDI projects between 2022 and 2025 - behind the United States and India, up from fourth place in 2015–19, McKinsey said in a report published on Thursday.

Impact of AI and Clean Energy

Inflation-adjusted inflows averaged about $85 billion a year, 40% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic and stronger than a 20% increase in global announced FDI, it said. By comparison, France and Germany attracted averages of $45 billion and $43 billion.

Government Initiatives for Investment

Britain's government has said it wants to attract more foreign investment as part of its push to speed up the country's weak productivity and overall economic growth.

McKinsey also said:

* Much of Britain's new FDI is concentrated in clean energyand AI deals worth more than $1 billion each with relativelylittle flowing into advanced manufacturing in areas such asbatteries for electric vehicles and semiconductors; * Around 80% of announced inflows to Britain came fromEurope and the United States with Britain at risk of missing outon investment from the Gulf, South Korea, Taiwan and elsewhere; * Announced FDI in fossil fuels in Britain fell by around80%compared with a decline of around 30% globally, possiblyreflecting increased taxes on oil and gas companies.

(Writing by William Schomberg; editing by David Milliken)

Key Takeaways

  • UK ranks third globally for new FDI projects.
  • AI and clean energy drive UK's FDI growth.
  • Inflation-adjusted inflows average $85 billion annually.
  • 80% of FDI inflows to UK come from Europe and the US.
  • FDI in fossil fuels in UK has significantly declined.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is foreign direct investment?
Foreign direct investment (FDI) refers to an investment made by a company or individual in one country in business interests in another country, typically by establishing business operations or acquiring assets.
What is artificial intelligence?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems, which can perform tasks such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving.
What is clean energy?
Clean energy is energy derived from renewable, zero-emissions sources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, which have a minimal impact on the environment.

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