Tracy Brabin has launched a five-day trade mission to Switzerland and Germany to deepen economic ties, unlock foreign investment and create new export opportunities for West Yorkshire businesses.
The mayor arrived in Zurich at the head of a twelve-member business delegation, marking the first stage of a visit that will also include Karlsruhe, Heilbronn and Stuttgart. Organized by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and supported by KPMG, the mission focuses on three priority sectors: financial and digital services, health technology and advanced manufacturing.
The trip, supported by the UK Government, aims to strengthen trade links with two of Europe’s most advanced industrialized countries and support thousands of jobs in Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds and Wakefield.
“Europe is our most important trading partner,” said Brabin. “Investments from Swiss and German companies as well as exports from our local companies secure thousands of good jobs in our region.”
A key aim of the visit is to promote West Yorkshire’s £160m Healthtech Investment Zone, which aims to accelerate innovation in medical technology, diagnostics and digital health. The region’s seven universities and strong clinical research base are positioned as natural partners in Switzerland’s biotech ecosystem.
Delegates will also highlight Leeds’ strength as a financial centre. Often referred to as the “Northern Square Mile,” the region is home to 30,000 financial and professional services companies with nearly 300,000 employees. Institutions such as the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority are represented on site.
The Mayor is expected to highlight the opportunities presented by the Bern Financial Services Agreement between the UK and Switzerland, as well as recent regulatory reforms to increase competitiveness.
Lucy Rigby, business secretary at the Treasury, said the mission signaled that the UK was “open for business” and ready to deepen European partnerships.
In Germany, discussions will focus on AI-powered manufacturing and sustainable transport systems, areas in which Stuttgart and Karlsruhe are considered global pioneers.
West Yorkshire is preparing to launch its pioneering Weaver Network in 2027, a major transport integration program, and is looking to draw lessons from Swiss and German expertise in rail, technology and urban mobility.
Business leaders on the trip say the mission offers access to new markets and investors. Carly Walter, chief executive of health technology company MAGI, said working with European partners would speed up product development and regulatory pathways. Representatives from digital companies such as The Data City and the sustainability consultancy NextGen Zero are also taking part.
The trade mission is part of West Yorkshire’s Local Growth Plan and will use £2 billion of devolved funding to attract additional private investment in transport, housing and skills.
For Brabin, the message is clear: West Yorkshire wants to position itself as a cosmopolitan, export-oriented region that competes on the global stage, and sees closer European ties as central to this goal.
