North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper recently led an economic development trip in Europe visiting France, Switzerland, and Germany to discuss business and international investment in the Tar Heel State.
He was accompanied by first lady Kristin Cooper, Department of Commerce Chief of Staff Marqueta Welton, and other state officials.
In France, Cooper met with business leaders of Schneider Electric; in Germany, he discussed electric vehicle technology with Siemens AG; and in Switzerland, he held meetings with several companies including Syngenta, ABB, and Novartis, as mentioned in a press release from the governor’s office.
“Germany is the second-largest source of foreign direct investment in North Carolina,” behind Japan, according to the governor’s office. Switzerland is the fifth and France the 12th.
According to the governor’s office, there are over 300,000 jobs in North Carolina due to the state’s relationships with foreign companies, Cooper aims to attract even more by strengthening these connections.
“We understand that our strategy of attracting foreign direct investment from companies worldwide creates well-paying jobs and benefits North Carolina families,” Cooper mentioned in a press release. “We have had significant success in attracting companies from abroad, notably from Japan, and I am eager to enhance our economic ties and cultivate relationships for our state with companies in Western Europe.”
International business in NC: From a luncheon to a Toyota factory: What the Japanese prime minister did in North Carolina
About a month ago, Cooper met with the state’s top direct international investor, Japan, during the visit of their Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife, Yuko Kishida.
In October, Cooper will further strengthen his international relationships by hosting the annual Southeast U.S. – Japan Conference in Charlotte.
