Global tech giant Amazon has ploughed more than £6bn into the East of England economy - including £2.2bn in the East Anglian counties of Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, according to its own analysis.
The company's 2022 Amazon UK Economic Impact Hub reveals that since 2010, it has invested more than £6.4bn in the East of England region - contributing an estimated £7.1bn to the region's gross domestic product (GDP) through goods and services.
As well as investing £2.2bn across East Anglia - and contributing an estimated £2.5bn to its GDP - it has invested £1.5bn in Essex and £2.6bn in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, it says.
It is also producing a UK Amazon Original series called The Power in Suffolk. The 10-part global thriller is based on an international bestselling novel straddling continents. Bawdsey, near Woodbridge, is among the locations used.
Overall, since 2010, the internet giant estimates it has created around 10,000 full and part-time jobs in the eastern region, with 880 people completing its employability skills training programme and 220 apprentices created.
It has more than 8,000 small business "selling partners" in the region, which recorded more than £360m worth of sales in 2021. Of these, 2,500 are based in East Anglia (Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire), with a similar number in Essex.
It has also supported charity work in the region, delivering more than 300,000 healthy breakfasts to vulnerable children and schools in partnership with the Magic Breakfast charity.
Gareth Davies, site leader at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Peterborough, said the company was a "proud member" of the East Anglian community and was making a positive contribution to the economy.
“We help more than 2,500 small businesses across East Anglia sell on Amazon and reach customers around the world, and we also continue to support community organisations across the region through donations and volunteering," he said.
"Recently, we have donated to a range of good causes including Cambridgeshire Deaf Association while working with Magic Breakfast to deliver healthy breakfasts to vulnerable children and schools.”
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