U.K. Consul General tells New Jersey Legislature that trade, research links remain strong

His Majesty’s Consul General Oliver Christian addressed the New Jersey General Assembly during its commemorative session at Princeton, highlighting longstanding economic and cultural ties between the United Kingdom and New Jersey.

In remarks introducing the historic context of the meeting, the consul general said “Over 39,000 New Jerseyans are employed by British companies,” and stated that “Our goods in trade reached $12,000,000,000 last year.” He also noted that over the past decade the U.K., through UK Research and Innovation, had invested about £130,000,000 in joint research with Princeton University across disciplines including earth ecosystems, engineering and physics.

Why it matters: The remarks framed the semiquincentennial event as an occasion to underscore international research and trade partnerships that affect jobs and university collaborations in New Jersey. Speakers used the platform to emphasize ongoing cooperation in sectors such as life sciences, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and higher education.

Details from the speech: The consul general described cultural exchanges and commercial ties that span the state, cited trade and employment figures as evidence of mutual benefit, and urged continued engagement in research and education partnerships. He explicitly tied U.K. investment to joint work with Princeton University and noted upcoming cultural events that highlight bilateral ties.

What the transcript shows: The consul general’s numerical claims about employment and trade were presented as statements during his address; no documentary citation was given in the session transcript. The article quotes those claims directly and reports them as remarks made on the floor.