The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan will today (July 18th) make the case for stronger trade and investment links between global cities such as London and Chicago, as he welcomes Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, on a visit to the capital.

Speaking to entrepreneurs and business leaders from the UK and US at an event hosted at London start-up hub WeWork Moorgate, Sadiq Khan will highlight the opportunities for city-to-city collaboration in areas such as financial services and technology.

He will underline that London remains open to investment, talent and innovation following the EU referendum.

London is the leading global destination city for Chicago businesses looking to establish a base outside the United States, according to data compiled by London & Partners, the Mayor of London’s promotional agency.

In the last ten years, London has attracted more Chicago-based companies than any other European city.

London is also the also the leading global city for foreign direct investment (FDI) from the United States, with over 1,500 investment projects creating around 60,000 jobs for the capital.

Chicago-based businesses are continuing to invest in London following the UK’s decision to leave the EU, with post-’Brexit’ investments from international law firm Baker & McKenzie, futures exchange group Eris Exchange and financial services firm TJM Holdings.

They join a number of Chicago companies that have invested in London over the past ten years, including the insurance giant AoN which moved its international headquarters to the capital, real estate specialist Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), and the world’s largest aerospace company Boeing.

In his meetings with Chicago business leaders and Mayor Emanuel’s delegation, Khan plans to build on the strong relationship between the two cities, established during his international trade mission to Chicago and New York last September.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

“I am delighted to welcome Mayor Emanuel to London today and to build on the excellent relationship that we formed when I visited Chicago last year.

London is the best city in the world in which to set up or grow a business so I am delighted that Chicago companies and entrepreneurs are coming here in record numbers, bringing jobs and investment and helping our economy to flourish.

London will always remain outward-looking and a magnet for global talent with an unbeatable blend of creativity, access to finance and a time zone that overlaps other financial centres of power.

I am determined to strengthen the links between these two great cities and develop new and exciting opportunities for trade and investment.”