Regulator opens first foreign outposts to help firms navigate U.K. regime.

As part of its strategy to drive growth in its financial industry and attract more foreign players, the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is establishing new footholds in the U.S. and the Asia Pacific region.

The regulator is, for the first time, opening foreign offices — starting with a new posting in Washington, D.C. that will seek to “advance U.K.-U.S. financial services policy and regulatory cooperation and support financial firms in the U.S. to navigate U.K. regulation,” the FCA said in a release.

In July, it will also establish a regional office in Australia to represent the FCA in the Asia Pacific region, it said.

“The role will focus on supporting financial services firms to navigate regulation to enter the U.K. market or raise capital and provide U.K. firms with support expanding into the APAC region,” it said.

“We are committed to continuing to build our global network and international reputation. These appointments will help us deliver on our mission to support growth through the export of U.K. financial services and attracting more inward investment to our shores,” said Sarah Pritchard, executive director, supervision, policy, competition and international at the FCA.

“We recognize that major international investors want easier access to us and having a presence in these key regions will help achieve that,” she added.