Bilbao has been recognised as the tenth best large European city in terms of attracting direct foreign investment by fDi Intelligence, part of the prestigious Financial Times publishing group.

In this new edition of the fDi Intelligence “European Cities and Regions of the Future 2022-2023” ranking, it has been evaluated, quantitatively and qualitatively, among 370 cities in Europe.

The ranking analyses the economic strengths, business fabric and financial capacities of numerous European cities and regions.

To date, the magazine had included it in its annual rankings as a medium-sized city, which is why positioning it as a large city is also a step forward in terms of the global recognition of Bilbao as a city for investment and its importance in attracting and retaining talent with regards the city’s competitiveness and its social well-being.

In fact, at present, the Island of Zorrotzaurre as an Urban Innovation District is the great symbol to continue attracting talent and foreign investment to Bilbao and the Region.

Thus, Bilbao is the only large city in Spain in the ranking and competes with cities like Oporto (Portugal), Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester (United Kingdom), Antwerp (Belgium) or Gothenburg (Sweden).

Furthermore, fDi Intelligence has ranked the Basque Country in sixth position in the “Top 10 Mid-Sized European Regions Of The Future 2023 – fDi Strategy“. The top three places are for Northern Ireland, Tuscany and the Canton of Zurich, respectively.

BILBAO, EUROPEAN CITY HIGHLIGHTED BY THE FINANCIAL TIMES

The history of the Financial Times group’s recognition of Bilbao dates back to 2016, when the city won a double award at the “fDi Strategy Awards” in the “Smart City” and “Education Cluster” categories for its commitment to moving towards a smart city model and promoting knowledge-based development.

The publication is considered to be the leading international journal analysing global Direct Foreign Investment flows and trends. The Financial Times is an international leader in business news and its awards are a seal of quality for the cities that receive them.