The UK’s Ambassador to Japan, Julia Longbottom, visited a selection of Portsmouth  businesses today to boost economic ties as part of a new roadshow launched by the Foreign Secretary David Lammy to drive growth in every part of the UK.

Ambassador Longbottom met with the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth City Cllr. Gerald Vernon-Jackson and Natalie Brahma-Pearl, Chief Executive of Portsmouth City Council and visited locally based businesses including Griffon Marine, Airbus Portsmouth, BAE Systems and the Mary Rose.

Portsmouth is a key centre of Japanese trade and investment within the Hampshire region, in part due to the strength of its maritime, defence and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Ambassador Longbottom said: t’s exciting to be in Portsmouth as part of this first-of-its-kind roadshow – going the extra mile to develop relationships that will help us supercharge growth to every corner of the UK.

“The UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and Trade Strategy are making Britain the best country to do business with – and that is the message I’m giving, loud and clear, to businesses in Japan.

“Japanese companies are choosing to invest and create jobs in the UK because of our skilled workforce, our world-class innovation, and our deep, trusted partnership with Japan. Portsmouth has all of these, and it’s my job to put Portsmouth on the map in Japan.

“That’s why I’m in Portsmouth today – exploring new opportunities both for local companies seeking to export to Japan, and to understand how Japanese companies can invest and create more jobs and growth here.

“I am particularly excited by Portsmouth’s strong defence industrial base, cutting-edge technology, and advanced manufacturing sector. These are all fantastic opportunities for partnership with Japan.

“I look forward to building on these opportunities further, including when the Royal Navy’s flagship aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales visits Japan later this year as part of her deployment to the Indo-Pacific. Having set sail from Portsmouth in April, this is just another example of the strong links between Portsmouth and Japan.

Japan is now the UK’s 15th largest trading partner. Ambassador Longbottom will use today’s roadshow visit to build on figures which show total trade between UK and Japan was £27.1 billion in 2024 – with many companies across Hampshire benefiting.

Exports from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight region to Japan in 2022 totalled £1billion, while total imports were £206million. Most of the exports from Hampshire & Isle of Wight are in goods – £833 million exported in goods versus £170 million in services, owing to the presence of major goods ports at Southampton and Portsmouth.

Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council said: We are delighted to welcome Ambassador Longbottom to Portsmouth as part of this important national initiative. Her visit is a valuable opportunity to showcase the world-class innovation and expertise that defines our city’s defence, maritime and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Working closely with Portsmouth’s global business partners like Griffon Marine, Airbus, BAE and the Mary Rose, we are building a resilient, forward-looking economy that benefits everyone in our city. This visit is a clear signal that Portsmouth is open for business and ready to play a leading role in the UK’s global trade ambitions.”

Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson added:

“Portsmouth is proud of its strong international connections, particularly with Japan, and we are committed to strengthening these ties to create new jobs, attract investment, and open up global opportunities for our residents.”

Mark Downer, CEO of Griffon Marine, said: Ambassador Longbottom’s visit highlights the importance of UK-Japan collaboration in shaping the future of maritime defence. At Griffon Marine, we are proud to lead the Wyvern-J programme, a platform that reflects the best of British innovation, engineering, and global support. Wyvern-J has the power to bring meaningful regeneration to Portchester by creating high-value jobs, apprenticeships, and a skilled workforce rooted in the community.”

Dominic Jones, CEO of the Mary Rose Trust, said: It was an honour to welcome Ambassador Longbottom to the Mary Rose Museum—home to the world’s largest collection of everyday Tudor artefacts. We were delighted to share the story of the Mary Rose, history’s greatest maritime archaeological salvage project, and its ongoing significance to Portsmouth’s heritage. We hope Her Excellency enjoyed her visit.