SDI operations director Neil Francis said: “Just recently, the EY Attractiveness survey highlighted a record year for Scotland in attracting inward investment during 2017, and now our own results back this up, showing a 9% increase in new jobs from inward investors over the 2017/18 financial year.

“Clearly, this is great news for the Scottish economy; not only do investors bring jobs and new business opportunities but they help to develop our supply chains and drive Scotland’s position in the global business arena by reinforcing our reputation as a fantastic place to invest and do international business.

“And the full impact of inward investment extends beyond this; increasingly we are seeing foreign investors making a real difference not just to our economy, but to people and places across Scotland, by investing in and creating opportunities for our young people and by putting in place more inclusive working practices to generate wider benefits.

“These results recognise the collective effort of partners across Scotland and internationally who work so hard to ensure the people of Scotland share the benefits of foreign investment in Scotland.

“We will continue to target our resources on the sectors, companies and areas of opportunity where we see most likelihood of success, and where we expect to see real economic and social impact for Scotland.”