'We're a place that gets trade, logistics and technology,' said Steve Rotheram as Singaporean trade‑tech firm LogChain confirmed it is moving its global headquarters to Liverpool. The company plans up to £4m of investment over three years, with officials billing the shift as fresh jobs and growth for Merseyside in an announcement published on 11 February 2026. (gov.uk)

LogChain builds software to swap paper‑heavy shipping processes for secure, legally recognised digital documentation - the kind of kit that can cut costs and speed up consignments for UK exporters. The firm says it will embed in Liverpool to serve British manufacturers and scale globally from the North West. (gov.uk)

The move lands as the UK pushes ahead on digital trade - from e‑bills of lading to digital identity and AI‑driven logistics - with ministers arguing British firms are now well placed to adopt and expand these tools. (gov.uk)

The legal foundations are already in place. The Electronic Trade Documents Act made the UK the first G7 country to put electronic trade documents on the same legal footing as paper. In September 2023, a Fort Vale component sent from Burnley to Singapore became the world’s first fully digitalised goods shipment - a pilot facilitated by LogChain. (gov.uk)

Liverpool isn’t starting from scratch. Government figures point to more than 1,000 digital and tech businesses operating in the city, underlining a historic trading hub that’s developing serious software muscle. LogChain’s arrival adds an international name to that base. (gov.uk)

‘The UK now has the legal foundations for the next era of digital commerce,’ said LogChain chief executive Andie McKeown, adding that a Liverpool HQ is about scaling trusted, interoperable trade infrastructure from a market setting the benchmark. (gov.uk)

Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle called the decision ‘a clear vote of confidence in the UK and the North West’, highlighting the country’s early lead on electronic trade documents. Officials also flagged a digital partnership with South Korea and a Digital Trade Corridor pilot with Germany and France; earlier trials between the UK, Singapore and Thailand reported shipping time cuts of up to 40% and productivity gains up to 67%. (gov.uk)

For Northern exporters, the practical prize is faster, cheaper movements if banks, insurers and freight partners adopt the same standards - fewer manual checks, quicker payments, less chasing paperwork. The announcement did not set a headcount target or hiring timetable, so the immediate jobs picture will be one to watch locally. (gov.uk)

The timing coincides with UK–Southeast Asia Tech Week, where HM Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific Martin Kent is out championing stronger partnerships - and officials are keen to note the UK has produced more than 200 tech ‘unicorns’ to date. For Liverpool, the message is simple: global trade innovation is no longer a London story. (gov.uk)