SelectUSA 2023

Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of attending SelectUSA 2023, the premier foreign direct investment (FDI) event in the United States. This dynamic conference welcomed over 4,200 participants from more than 82 foreign markets and 53 states and territories to Washington DC for four days. 

SelectUSA serves as a powerful conduit for economic developers, policymakers and global business leaders to connect, share best practices and cultivate investment opportunities. Our attendance at this event was an exciting opportunity to spotlight the appealing investment environment of Wake County. It also presented us with a platform to engage with international investors, sparking more job prospects and driving economic growth in our region.

The conference is organized over a four-day span to include break-out sessions on a variety of topics, time to explore booths in the exhibition hall, one-on-one meetings and receptions and events. 

Our journey began at the Entreprise Singapore event, an enlightening experience that brought us face-to-face with numerous Singaporean companies keen on expanding their footprint in the United States. These companies were mainly focused in the cleantech and agtech sectors and are eager to expand internationally. We emphasized the welcoming business climate of Wake County and our strategic market access, creating the basis for what we hope will be fruitful future collaborations.

Throughout the week we also joined our state partners at the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC) booth. In these conversations, we promoted North Carolina and Wake County as an ideal destination for businesses seeking a skilled workforce, exceptional universities and a vibrant innovation ecosystem. We were able to highlight our region's competitive advantages, including our prime location within the Research Triangle and the array of flourishing industries in Wake County. It was exciting to see the level of interest in North Carolina and our region from all corners of the globe. 

As we built upon these connections, we turned our attention towards learning more about FDI strategies. We were able to attend sessions on soft landing programs, crafting an FDI Strategy and data dives into FDI in Europe and Asia. These sessions provided invaluable insights into the ways we can help foreign companies successfully establish their presence in the United States. 

Our time at the conference was rounded off with a reception at the Japanese Embassy. There is a strong, long-standing relationship between Japan and Wake County through investments from Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, Fujifilm Irvine Scientific, Ajinomoto and many others. This special event enabled us to further strengthen our relationship as we are excited to see the continued partnership grow.

We were thrilled to  attend SelectUSA 2023 this year, and it's clear that it was an invaluable experience, paving the way for new partnerships, investments and collaborations. The knowledge and connections we gained will significantly contribute to Wake County's ongoing economic development efforts. A special thanks to our partners across the state, which helped contribute to a fantastic week!