State of Colorado and United Kingdom Sign Agreement to Foster Trade and Investment

By IBCircle President and CEO Maggie Fouquet

“This is just the start” was the main message and sentiment during the speeches and exchanges at the reception at the Governor’s Mansion celebrating the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on January 27, 2025, between Colorado and the United Kingdon (U.K.) to foster cooperation on economic relations, trade, and investment.

This new partnership will develop and promote shared opportunities between Colorado and the U.K. in clean energy, climate smart agriculture, quantum technologies, space technology, tourism, and artificial intelligence — all important economic drivers for both economies.

It was an honor for the International Business Circle (IBCircle) to be included in this gathering. The turnout of Colorado and U.K. dignitaries, organizations and business movers and shakers for this event was a direct testament to the enthusiasm with which the MOU is being received locally and to the longstanding special relationship between Colorado and the UK.

Speeches by Lt Governor Primavera, British Consul General Hyde, Michelle Hadwiger (Deputy Director, State of Colorado, Office of Economic Development and International Trade – OEDIT), Kate Greenberg (Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture), Eve Lieberman (Executive Director, OEDIT), Dominique Gómez (Deputy Director Colorado Energy Office) and British Consul Erin Kuhn, highlighted key aspects of the MOU and the opportunities it will develop.

As reported in the speeches and by the Colorado OEDIT: The MOU builds on a strong economic partnership between the two regions. In 2023, Colorado exported $214 million in goods to the U.K., while importing $260 million. The U.K. is also Colorado's number one source of foreign investment. Over the last five years, British companies invested $1.5 billion in capital expenditures and provided an estimated 19,400 jobs in Colorado. Also, over the last five years, Colorado companies invested an estimated $1.3 billion in capital expenditure and created an estimated 3,765 jobs in the U.K.

A huge thank you goes to British Consul Erin Kuhn for her dedication in making this MOU happen. This was greatly acknowledged in the speeches, by attendees at the event, and throughout our IBCircle community.

See the Colorado Office of Economic Development press release on the MOU here

See full details of the MOU on the U.K. Government website hereO