Foreign Direct Investment Fuels Growth
in North Carolina’s Southeast

In today’s global economy, competition for investment is no longer regional – it is international. Communities that succeed are those that effectively position themselves, aligning assets, infrastructure, and workforce with the demands of global companies.

Across the 20 counties that make up North Carolina’s Southeast (NCSE), that strategy is delivering measurable results. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has emerged as a powerful driver of economic momentum in the region, bringing not only capital but also innovation, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and high-quality jobs.

Why FDI Matters

FDI represents long-term commitments from international companies establishing operations in U.S. communities. For North Carolina’s Southeast, these investments translate into:

  • Job Creation: Thousands of new opportunities across advanced manufacturing, logistics, and aerospace
  • Capital Investment: Billions of dollars flowing into facilities, equipment, and infrastructure
  • Technology Transfer: Introduction of global best practices and advanced production methods
  • Supply Chain Expansion: Opportunities for local firms to integrate into international networks

Why Global Firms Choose This Region

International companies evaluating U.S. locations consistently find a strong value proposition in North Carolina’s Southeast:

  • Strategic East Coast Location: Choosing to locate in one of NCSE’s 20 member counties positions companies midway along the Eastern Seaboard, providing them with efficient access to major markets.
  • Multimodal Infrastructure: Proximity to the ports of Wilmington and Morehead City, rail, interstate highways, and international airports supports global logistics.
  • Workforce Pipeline: A labor force nearing one million, bolstered by more than 20,000 transitioning military personnel annually and more than 58,000 military spouses, gives global companies access to a deep talent pool supported by strong education, military, and training pipelines.
  • Targeted Industry Clusters: Strength in aerospace and defense, advanced textiles, agri-business and food processing, distribution and logistics, and metalworking indicates global companies not only find a qualified workforce here, but also the support that comes from being in proximity to similar businesses, including suppliers.

These fundamentals create an environment where international firms can scale quickly and operate competitively.

From First Contact to Long-Term Success

FDI does not happen by accident. It requires coordinated regional strategy, relationship-building, and sustained engagement. NCSE plays a central role in these areas.

As a public-private partnership, NCSE actively markets the region nationally and globally, connecting site selectors and international companies with the assets they need to succeed.

Our approach to facilitating FDI includes:

  1. Global Marketing and Outreach
    NCSE positions the region in front of international audiences, promoting its advantages through targeted campaigns, trade relationships, and industry engagement.
  2. Site and Product Development
    Through initiatives that identify and prepare “shovel-ready” sites and industrial buildings, NCSE ensures global firms can move quickly from decision to operation – often a decisive factor in FDI projects.
  3. Concierge-Level Project Support
    NCSE provides confidential, no-cost assistance to companies and site consultants, streamlining site selection, workforce alignment, and local partnerships.
  4. Regional Collaboration
    NCSE aligns local governments, utilities, educational institutions, and private partners around a shared vision, reducing friction and accelerating project timelines.

Building Confidence for International Investors

For global companies, entering a new market carries risk. NCSE mitigates that risk by offering a unified regional approach backed by strong partnerships and proven outcomes.

From infrastructure readiness to workforce training programs, the organization ensures international firms are not just recruited but successfully integrated into the regional economy.

This collaborative model has already helped attract dozens of new company locations and continues to strengthen the region’s reputation as a competitive destination for global investment.

Positioned for Continued Global Growth

As supply chains evolve and companies seek resilient, cost-effective U.S. locations, North Carolina’s Southeast is increasingly on the radar of international investors.

With a strategic location, robust workforce, and a proactive organization in NCSE driving the effort, the region is not simply participating in the global economy, it is actively shaping its future within it.

Foreign Direct Investment is more than a metric here. It is a catalyst for long-term prosperity, and through NCSE’s leadership, that momentum is only accelerating.