I NTE RN AT I O N A L B US I NE S S With more than 245,000 foreign-born residents, the Charlotte MSA is a truly global hub. Charlotte offers exceptional non-stop air service, foreign trade zones and numerous nonprofit organizations focused on international businesses, foreign policy and global culture. Research Made Possible By:
• More than 1,000 internationally owned firms do business in the Charlotte Region, employing more than 66,000 in the area*
• Real exports from the Charlotte MSA accounted for $16.5 billion in 2016, according to the Brookings Institute
• 700 flights each day to more than 150 non-stop destinations including Barcelona, Dublin, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Mexico City, Montreal, Munich, Paris, Rome, Toronto and several Caribbean destinations. Q2 2018
W W W.C H A R LOT T EC H A M B E R .CO M
*Source: Charlotte Chamber International Business Directory, 2018
I N TE RN AT I O N A L B US I NE S S E S Charlotte has seen steady and impressive growth in international business. The presence of internationally owned businesses in our area dates back to 1925 when Sandoz Corporation moved to Charlotte. Currently, there are more than 1,018 firms in the region, representing 45 different countries and employing 66,000 people. Charlotte offers a nurturing climate for regional, national and international companies of all sizes. The area’s high quality of life, reasonable cost of living, worldclass arts, major league sports and educational and advancement opportunities attract talented
people from around the globe. Our region's assets include exceptional air service, a foreign trade zone, transparent government and business practices and numerous nonprofit organizations that focus on international business, foreign policy and global culture. Charlotte is home to honorary consuls of Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Moldova, Nicaragua and Switzerland.
A steady influx of new residents moving to Charlotte each year keeps the city’s business and social structure fresh and vibrant. Charlotte welcomes new leaders and encourages them to help shape and build its future. This is an easy city for making fresh starts and leaving a mark on a company or the community. Our business community is actively engaged in steering public policy, and many of Charlotte’s top leaders come directly from the corporate sector, making Charlotte one of the most business-focused cities in the United States.
I N T E R N AT I O N A L B U S I N E S S E S BY PA R E N T CO U N T RY COUNTRY OF PARENT COMPANY
REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT
COMPANIES
LOCATIONS
Germany
209
241
17,020
United Kingdom
118
163
6,585
Canada
101
119
5,384
THE CHARLOTTE
Japan
80
89
6,268
MSA INCREASED
France
57
67
4,304
Switzerland
57
67
3,395
Italy
51
52
2,242
The Netherlands
50
59
3,767
China
48
48
1,801
Sweden
38
49
3,161
Ireland
21
28
3,728
Australia
18
22
793
India
18
16
173
Belgium
15
15
365
Other
141
162
7,431
1,026
1,201
66,417
EXPORTS FROM
MORE THAN
238.4 % SINCE 20 09. Source: International Trade Administration
GRAND TOTAL
Sources: Charlotte Chamber Data
F O R A F U L L L I S T O F I N T E R N AT I O N A L B U S I N E S S E S , V I S I T
C H A R L O T T E I S L O C AT E D I N F O R E I G N T R A D E Z O N E # 5 7 , W H I C H O F F E R S PA R T I C I PAT I N G C O M PA N I E S A B I L I T Y T O D E F E R , R E D U C E O R E L I M I N AT E S O M E C U S T O M S D U T I E S Source: CharlotteUSA.com
ADVANTAG E S O F D OI N G BU SI N ESS I N C H ARLOTTE ACC E S S
TALENT
A F FORDABILITY
QUALITY OF L I FE
A central location on the
Charlotte’s companies
Comprehensive tax reform
Charlotte consistently ranks
rely on a talented, young
has brought North Carolina
high as a destination city
and growing workforce.
one of the lowest flat
for all ages. More than
The region’s 23 colleges
corporate tax rates at 3% in
33,000 newcomers arrive
and universities, plus 18
the nation as of 2017. North
in the Charlotte area each
community colleges and
Carolina regularly ranks high
year, drawn by career
vocational schools offer
in business friendliness.
opportunities, diverse living
U.S. East Coast and the fifth busiest global airport puts the world within Charlotte’s reach. 53% of the US population lives within 12-hours trucking distance or a two-hour flight, and with more than 700 daily nonstop flights to 150-plus
training for all types of skills
options and a cost of living
and occupations.
95.9 percent of the national
destinations, nowhere is too
average.
far away.
One of the largest global freight forwarders, Swiss-based Kuehne + Nagel has grown its presence in the Charlotte area from a small sales office in the 1970s to its current 75,000 square-foot facility and more than 180 employees. Kuehne + Nagel has more than 1,300 offices in more than 100 countries. The company’s Charlotte office takes advantage of our region's strategic location and growing business community by providing logistics and supply chain management services to several locally headquartered corporations.
C H A R L O T T E C H A M B E R . C O M / I N T E R N AT I O N A L B U S I N E S S .
INTERNATIONAL INFRAST RUCTURE IN THE CHARLOTTE REGION INFRASTRUCTURE
DUB
YYZ
LHR
FRA
YUL
CDG
MUC
ROM
HAV MEX
Research Made Possible By: H O N O R A R Y C O N S U L AT E S
Daily Daily nonstop nonstop flights flights to to international international cities cities such such as as Barcelona, Barcelona, Dublin, Dublin, Frankfurt, Frankfurt, London London,, Madrid, Madrid, Mexico Mexico City, City, Montreal, Montreal, Munich, Munich, Paris, Paris, Rome Rome and and Toronto, Toronto, as as well well as as several several Caribbean Caribbean destinations. destinations.
I N T E R N AT I O N A L F I R M S I N T H E C H A R L O T T E R E G I O N I N T E R N AT I O N A L F I R M S I N T H E C H A R L O T T E R E G I O N
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
Czech Republic Estonia France Germany Guatemala Hungary Ireland Italy Mexico Moldova Nicaragua Switzerland United Kingdom
I N T E R N AT I O N A L LY- F O C U S E D P R I VAT E S C H O O L S
• • • • • • • •
British Chinese German Greek Japanese Korean Russian Swedish
For additional information on Charlotte, please contact
W W W.C H A R LOT T EC H A M B E R .CO M
Eileen Cai VP, Economic Development, Asian Sector +1 704.378.1316 ecai@charlottechamber.com
Sven Gerzer VP, Economic Development, European & Indian Sectors +1 704.378.1310 sgerzer@charlottechamber.com