Drawing a comparison with the U.S. tech ecosystem, Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan highlighted London’s unique advantage: “Silicon Valley is the start-up and tech capital of the U.S., New York is the hub for finance, Washington for policy, and Los Angeles for the corporate entertainment sector. But in London, we have all of that—finance, policymaking, tech, and culture—within a 15-minute tube ride of each other,”…. reports Anasudhin Azeez
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has made a compelling pitch to international tech leaders, inviting them to invest in the capital and take advantage of its unique strengths amid shifting global dynamics.
Speaking at a roundtable with foreign journalists, mainly from Europe, Khan emphasised London’s growing importance in the evolving geopolitical landscape. “There has never been a better time to invest in the capital,” he said. Citing political uncertainty in the United States, he noted that businesses are now looking for cities that offer both stability and a pro-investment climate—conditions London is well-positioned to provide.
“London is now competing with the top tech cities globally,” he said. “We have over 1,300 AI companies based here—more than the rest of Europe combined. AI and tech are key growth sectors for us.”
Drawing a comparison with the U.S. tech ecosystem, Khan highlighted London’s unique advantage: “Silicon Valley is the start-up and tech capital of the U.S., New York is the hub for finance, Washington for policy, and Los Angeles for the corporate entertainment sector. But in London, we have all of that—finance, policymaking, tech, and culture—within a 15-minute tube ride of each other.”
Encouraging further international investment, he said: “I’m inviting not just great American companies like Nvidia, but others around the world to consider London as their next home. If you’re thinking about expansion, come here. We offer a powerful combination—world-class universities, trusted financial and professional services, and the rule of law.”
“Whether it’s fintech, health tech, legal tech or AI—we have it all. I’m not trying to compete with Silicon Valley. I believe in collaboration. I want to partner with them, and I hope Silicon Valley companies looking to scale or collaborate will consider London.”
London is preparing for what the Mayor has described as the “biggest ever” month for business and investment. This June, a series of major international events are expected to attract thousands of global business leaders, innovators, and creatives to the city—reaffirming London’s position as a world capital of commerce, culture, and technology.
Among the high-profile events are:
SXSW London (through June 7): The inaugural European edition of the iconic festival, bringing together leading voices in tech, media, and the creative industries. Speakers include Sir Demis Hassabis, Co-Founder of Google DeepMind, and Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal Biosciences.
2025 Concordia Europe Summit (June 8–10): An invitation-only summit uniting global business executives and political figures to explore economic growth and financial inclusion. Featured participants include Francesca Carlesi, UK CEO of Revolut; Cherie Blair, Co-Founder of Omnia Strategy LLP; and former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.
London Tech Week (June 9–13): Europe’s largest technology event, drawing investors, entrepreneurs, and tech leaders from around the world. Notable speakers include Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia Founder), Mark Read (CEO, WPP), and Melanie Dawes (CEO, Ofcom).
London Climate Action Week (June 21–29): A major convening of business leaders, policymakers, NGOs, and climate scientists focused on environmental innovation and sustainable solutions.
Khan concluded with a confident declaration: “London is the best city for business in the world—an economic and cultural powerhouse brimming with creativity, innovation, and enterprise. We are the engine of the UK economy, the leading destination in Europe for inward investment, and one of the top two global financial centres.”
London’s economic strength is undeniable. In 2023, the capital’s output was £531 billion—over 20% of the entire UK economy—surpassing the combined output of both the South East and North West regions of England.
With its rich ecosystem of talent, innovation, and global connectivity, London continues to position itself not only as a rival to other global tech hubs—but as a vital partner in the future of global innovation.
