The Raleigh Metro as a Global Business Hub

With more than 700 international companies, the Raleigh metro and the Research Triangle region offer a strong foundation for global companies to grow and thrive. International Business in the region brings new jobs and investment, as well as new culture, practices, and customs. The global engagement index measures a region’s ability to attract international business, engage in international trade, and appeal to highly skilled foreign-born talent. International Business in the region is critical to growth, diversity in the workforce, global reach, and a more dynamic economy. The Raleigh metro has invested time in creating an environment capable of supporting foreign companies and several strategic initiatives to attract international business to the metro area. Several large international companies like FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, Lenovo and Ajinomoto, have found long-term success in the region, as have other newer companies, including UBS, Infosys, Audemars Piguet, and HCL. The Raleigh metro offers a unique foundation for foreign-born residents and foreign-owned companies. The region has three tier-one research universities, access to a variety of industries, a strategic east coast location, and an international airport. The Raleigh-Durham International Airport continues to expand, offering direct flights to London, Paris, Frankfurt and more, plus more than 60 nonstop destinations.

#1 Fastest Growing Top 50 Airport (Raleigh-Durham International) U.S. DOT, 2023

#9 Foreign Direct Investment (North Carolina) Business Facilities, August 2024

This content first appeared in WCED’s 2025 Metro Comps (Volume 5). Read more here.