Foreign Secretary David Lammy has deployed the UK’s High Commissioner to Singapore, Nik Mehta to Greater Manchester to boost economic ties as part of a series of roadshows to drive growth in every part of the UK.
Yesterday’s visit to Greater Manchester is part of a new roadshow launched by the Foreign Secretary David Lammy over the summer to drive economic growth in every part of the UK by building connections between regions in the UK and top target markets overseas.
It follows a visit from the UK’s Ambassador to Spain, Alex Ellis, to Greater Manchester in July – aimed at boosting links with the UK’s 7th largest trading partner.
Ambassadors and High Commissioners are posted for long stints in other countries, and part of their brief is to get under the skin of the place they are based. That includes getting to know the ins and outs of the business landscape, and spotting opportunities for British businesses.
High Commissioner Mehta is one of over ten top British diplomats despatched on a cross-country tour to build relationships with mayors and regional businesses right across the UK.
The Foreign Secretary wants the roadshow to strengthen ties between the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s extensive overseas network and every UK region to boost international trade with key markets such as Japan, Canada and Germany, as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said:
“Greater Manchester has a strong connection to Singapore but there’s so much more we can do to boost trade and investment.
“I am sending my High Commissioner to work directly with local businesses to build connections so they can harness their expertise and champion the interests of Greater Manchester most effectively.
“This nationwide roadshow is one of the ways I am ensuring the economic interests of British businesses sit at the heart of our foreign policy. Diplomacy is delivering on our Plan for Change.”
High Commissioner Mehta met with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Leader of Manchester City Council, Cllr Bev Craig to discuss trade and investment opportunities.
He toured the ambitious Victoria North regeneration project, which will deliver 15,000 homes north-east of Manchester city centre over the next two decades, and also visited the £1.7billion Sister innovation district and the new Circle Square community hub, blending modern residential, office, retail and leisure space.
Singapore is now the UK’s 21st largest trading partner. High Commissioner Mehta will use this week’s roadshow visit to build on figures which show total trade between UK and Singapore was £22.7 billion in 2024 – with many companies across Greater Manchester benefiting.
Metroline, a subsidiary of Singapore-based ComfortDelGro Corporation, began operating bus services in Greater Manchester in January 2025, as part of the Bee Network. This expansion added 420 buses and over 1,350 employees, increasing Metroline’s UK footprint by 30% over its London operations.
The Manchester contract represents a £422 million investment by ComfortDelGro. The company’s experience in managing large-scale, urban transport systems in Singapore and London has been instrumental in shaping Metroline’s operations in Manchester.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:
“It was a privilege to welcome the UK High Commissioner to Singapore to show him the scale of our ambition in Greater Manchester. Earlier this year Cllr Bev Craig and I led a Greater Manchester mission to Singapore, and we were pleased to have the opportunity to further strengthen our relationships with this visit.
“Singapore is an important trading partner and its joined-up approach to government, economy and infrastructure offers valuable insights for Greater Manchester as the UK’s most devolved city-region.
“Greater Manchester is a city region with a global reach. Our engagement with cities and countries across the world is helping us kickstart another decade of growth by delivering new jobs and boosting innovation, while supporting existing industries and attracting new ones.”
