£45m boost and job creation for Sunderland through international links

International business links have provided the city of Sunderland with £45m of capital investment and 735 new jobs according to a new report.

The latest International Strategy Annual Report by Sunderland City Council has outlined how businesses from overseas have significantly boosted the local economy with the creation of new jobs and investment in the last financial year.

The city is now home to 90 international companies from 20 territories, employing a total of 26,350 people in the area.

Companies that have invested in the city include German firm RWE Npower, which created new roles in a new digital customer service wing at its Rainton Bridge campus, US firm Saggezza, Swedish owned Walker Filtration as well as US-headquartered hearing aid battery manufacturer Rayovac.

In addition the city played host to a number of cultural events that attracted attention on an international scale, such as the fourth annual Sunderland Shorts Film Festival and a creative partnership with a Washington DC organisation during the city’s Tall Ship Races.

Council leader, Cllr Graeme Miller, commented: “Our international links are incredibly important to this city’s success.

“For us, economic development is a major priority, supporting companies to survive and thrive in the city, retaining and potentially securing repeat investment from inward investors and supporting local businesses to access overseas markets and grow.

“As a city we remain committed to maximising these international links for the benefit for the city, our businesses and our residents.”

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