Invest NI Secures Record £764 Million in Business Investment as Northern Ireland Bucks Global Slowdown
Invest NI has delivered its strongest-ever annual performance, securing a record £764 million in business investment for the year ending March 2026 and supporting the creation of 4,300 jobs across Northern Ireland's economy — a landmark result that has been welcomed as evidence of the region's enduring attractiveness to investors despite the headwinds of global economic uncertainty and the domestic pressures of the Stormont budget crisis.
Background
Invest NI is Northern Ireland's regional economic development agency, responsible for attracting foreign direct investment, supporting the growth of local businesses, and promoting the region as a destination for international capital. The agency operates under the Department for the Economy at Stormont and works in close partnership with the UK government's Department for Business and Trade to identify and secure investment opportunities for Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland has a number of distinctive advantages as an investment location that Invest NI has worked to leverage in recent years. The region's position under the Windsor Framework — which gives it access to both the UK internal market and the EU single market for goods — is a unique selling point that has attracted particular interest from companies seeking to use Northern Ireland as a base for serving both markets. The region also has a highly educated workforce, a growing technology and professional services sector, and a cost base that compares favourably with other parts of the UK and Ireland.
The record investment figure comes against a backdrop of significant global economic uncertainty, with rising interest rates, geopolitical tensions, and trade policy volatility having dampened investment activity in many parts of the world. The fact that Invest NI has been able to achieve a record performance in this environment is a testament to the quality of the investment proposition it has been able to offer and to the effectiveness of its engagement with potential investors across a range of sectors and geographies.
Key Developments
The £764 million investment figure for the year ending March 2026 represents a significant increase on the previous year's performance and sets a new benchmark for Invest NI's annual results. The investment is spread across a range of sectors, with technology, financial services, advanced manufacturing, and agri-food all featuring prominently in the portfolio of projects secured during the year. The 4,300 jobs supported by the investment are distributed across Northern Ireland, with projects in Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, Antrim, Newry, and a range of other locations contributing to the overall total.
The private equity and venture capital sector has also had a strong year, with investment in Northern Ireland-based companies growing by nearly £300 million in 2025 to reach a total of over £380 million. This surge in venture capital activity reflects growing confidence among investors in the quality of Northern Ireland's business ecosystem and the potential of its technology and innovation sectors. A number of high-profile investment rounds in Belfast-based technology companies have contributed to the strong performance, with the city's growing reputation as a hub for fintech, cybersecurity, and software development attracting attention from investors across the UK, Europe, and North America.
Invest NI chief executive Kieran Donoghue described the record investment figure as a reflection of the hard work of the agency's team and the quality of the businesses and opportunities that Northern Ireland has to offer. He acknowledged the challenging global environment but expressed confidence that Northern Ireland's unique combination of advantages — including its dual market access, its skilled workforce, and its competitive cost base — would continue to attract investment in the years ahead.
Why It Matters
The record Invest NI performance matters because it provides a counterpoint to the narrative of economic difficulty that has dominated much of the discussion about Northern Ireland's finances in recent months. While the Stormont budget crisis and the pressures on public services have rightly attracted significant attention, the investment figures demonstrate that the private sector continues to see Northern Ireland as an attractive and viable location for business activity. The 4,300 jobs supported by the investment will make a real difference to the lives of the individuals and families involved, and the broader economic activity generated by the investment will contribute to the tax revenues and consumer spending that underpin the public services that Northern Ireland depends on. The record performance also strengthens the case for continued investment in the infrastructure, skills, and innovation ecosystem that makes Northern Ireland an attractive investment destination.
Local Impact
The impact of the record investment performance will be felt across Northern Ireland, from the technology companies of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter and Titanic Quarter to the manufacturing facilities of Antrim and Newry and the agri-food businesses of the rural hinterland. In Belfast, the investment in technology and financial services companies will contribute to the continued development of the city's knowledge economy, supporting the growth of a cluster of high-value businesses that are increasingly competing on a global stage. In Derry/Londonderry, investment in the city's growing technology and creative industries sector will support the economic regeneration that has been a priority for the city council and the wider community. In the border counties and rural areas, investment in agri-food and manufacturing will support the local economies that depend on these sectors for employment and economic activity. Invest NI has indicated that it will continue to prioritise investment attraction in areas outside Belfast, recognising the importance of ensuring that the benefits of economic development are shared across the region.
What's Next
Invest NI will publish its full annual report for the year ending March 2026 in the coming months, providing a detailed breakdown of the investment secured and the jobs created across different sectors and geographic areas. The agency is already working on its pipeline of investment projects for the current year, with a number of significant announcements expected in the coming months. The Department for the Economy is also expected to publish an updated economic strategy for Northern Ireland later in 2026, setting out the government's priorities for economic development over the medium term and providing a framework for Invest NI's activities in the years ahead. The outcome of the Stormont budget talks will be a key factor in determining the resources available for economic development initiatives, and Invest NI has indicated that it will make the case strongly for continued investment in the agency's capacity to attract and support business investment in Northern Ireland.
