Tracy Brabin has launched a five-day trade mission to Switzerland and Germany aimed at deepening economic ties, unlocking inward investment and creating new export opportunities for West Yorkshire firms.

The mayor arrived in Zurich at the head of a 12-strong business delegation, marking the first leg of a visit that will also take in Karlsruhe, Heilbronn and Stuttgart. Organised 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.

Backed by the UK government, the trip is designed to strengthen trade links with two of Europe’s most advanced industrial economies and support thousands of jobs across Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds and Wakefield.

“Europe is our most important trading partner,” Brabin said. “Investment from Swiss and German firms, and exports from our homegrown businesses, support thousands of good jobs across our region.”

A key objective 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 being positioned as natural partners to Switzerland’s biotech ecosystem.

Delegates will also highlight the strength of Leeds as a financial hub. Often described as the “Northern Square Mile”, the region is home to 30,000 financial and professional services firms employing almost 300,000 people, with institutions including the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority represented locally.

The mayor is expected to stress the opportunities created by the UK-Switzerland Berne Financial Services Agreement and recent regulatory reforms aimed at boosting competitiveness.

Lucy Rigby, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said the mission signalled that the UK was “open for business” and ready to deepen European partnerships.

In Germany, discussions will centre on AI-enabled manufacturing and sustainable transport systems, areas where Stuttgart and Karlsruhe are seen as global leaders.

West Yorkshire is preparing to launch its landmark Weaver Network in 2027, a major transport integration programme, and is seeking to draw lessons from Swiss and German expertise in rail, engineering and urban mobility.

Business leaders on the trip say the mission offers access to new markets and investors. Carly Walter, chief executive of healthtech firm MAGI, said collaboration with European partners would accelerate product development and regulatory pathways. Representatives from digital firms including The Data City and sustainability consultancy NextGen Zero are also participating.

The trade mission forms part of West Yorkshire’s Local Growth Plan and leverages £2bn of devolved funding to attract additional private investment into transport, housing and skills.

For Brabin, the message is clear: West Yorkshire intends to position itself as an outward-looking, export-driven region competing on the global stage, and sees closer European ties as central to that ambition.

Amy Ingham

Amy is a newly qualified journalist specialising in business journalism at Business Matters with responsibility for news content for what is now the UK’s largest print and online source of current business news.