Many companies in Kansas City already know about the appealing economic opportunities happening in Kansas City, Missouri. Now, the word is spreading around the globe.
In June, Narbeli Galindo, EDC Director of International Affairs, represented Kansas City, Missouri at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, DC. The annual event is dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States. Economic development corporations from across the country had an opportunity to network with multinational companies to help facilitate business investments in America.
Galindo’s goal was to share the exciting business development opportunities we have right here in Kansas City, Missouri.
“The event is an excellent venue to network and brand Kansas City, Missouri in front of thousands of multinational companies looking to enter the U.S. market,” said Galindo. “We needed to be there to share the benefits Kansas City has for companies to grow and expand …. our location, distribution, and infrastructure are all assets.”
Galindo met with over a dozen companies during the two-day conference and said they were impressed with what Kansas City has to offer. “Many people wanted to learn about our Techweek and LaunchKC grant competition,” said Galindo. “These are unique opportunities many businesses want to participate in, and they wanted to know more about how they could get involved.”
President Obama delivered the keynote address and emphasized the ultimate goal of the summit.
“This is not just about jobs and trade, it’s not just about hard, cold cash. It’s also about building relationships across borders,” said Obama. “When your companies come together, you help bring countries and cultures together. That’s one of the most important things you produce, and you should never underestimate its value.”
After the conference, Galindo has continued to build the relationships she made with companies at the event from around the world who showed a real interest in investing in Kansas City, MO. “These are long-term relationships that will continue to develop as we work with them on opportunities here,” said Galindo. “We may also need to get our regional organizations involved so we can provide them with help when entering the U.S. market.”
We are proud to hear investments from countries like Spain, Portugal, Brazil, France, Netherlands, Finland, India, and China are in the works!
To learn more about how SelectUSA helps promote foreign direct investment in the United States, please visit their website.
About International Business In Kansas City, Missouri
The EDC’s blog features monthly updates on International Business Initiatives. If you are interested in learning more, please visit the International Business section of our website or view the latest news on our blog.
*For more information about international business in Kansas City, Missouri, please contact Narbeli Galindo, the EDC’s Coordinator for International Business Development Initiatives. ngalindo@edckc.com (816) 691-2139 or (800) 889-0636