Jamie Stitt

Assistant Commissioner, Business and Workforce Development

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
312 Rosa L. Parks Ave., Nashville, TN 37243
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International Business

We Proudly Serve the World.

We’ve created an environment unbound by state borders. No other state is more competitive in recruiting foreign direct investment or in exporting products enjoyed the world over. We’ve established resources that make Tennessee accessible to any international market.

We’re in it for the long term. By investing in a broader international footprint, we’ve ensured that Tennessee is firmly entrenched in the new global economy.

The Volunteer State is home to 1,000+ foreign-based businesses that have invested over $47 billion in capital and employ more than 161,900 Tennesseans. Tennessee continues to proactively identify and recruit new foreign direct investment (FDI) to the state alongside efforts to increase Tennessee exports. Our state has offices courting foreign direct investment in Japan, South Korea, Ireland, Spain, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. We work closely with our federal partners to promote exports, which totaled more than $38.3 billion in 2022. This investment demonstrates Tennessee’s commitment to competing globally for business and jobs, which is not something that most states can claim.

In 2022, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development received 18 project commitments from foreign-owned businesses, resulting in 3,449 job commitments and almost $5 billion in capital investment. These major foreign projects included Korean-owned LG Chem America Inc. (860 new jobs, $3.2 billion in capital investment), Japanese-owned Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC (380 new jobs, $550 million in capital investment), Australian-owned Tritium Technologies, LLC (510 new jobs, $15.3 million in capital investment), and Korean-owned Hankook Tire Co., Ltd (397 new jobs, $612 million in capital investment).

We believe in high expectations, low debt and a pro-business regulatory environment. Tennessee is proud to be a right-to-work state with no personal income tax. Our state and local tax burdens are some of the lowest in the country. We have the lowest debt per capita among U.S. states and Tennessee’s budget operates with a healthy surplus.

Quick Facts

1000+

Foreign-based establishments in Tennessee

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161K+

Tennesseans employed by foreign-based establishments

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$47+

Billion in capital invested in Tennessee by foreign-based establishments

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  • Top Exported Products
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    Commodity20182019202020212022
    Medical Equipment & Supplies (3391)$3.3 B$3.9 B$4 B$4.3 B$4.2 B
    Pharmaceuticals & Medicines (3254)$701 M$875 M$960 M$2.9 B$2.6 B
    Navigational/Measuring/Electromedical/Control Instruments (3345)$2.1 B$2.1 B$2 B$2.4 B$2.4 B
    Basic Chemicals (3251)$2 B$1.8 B$1.6 B$2 B$2.1 B
    Communications Equipment (3342)$845 M$722 M$1.1 B$2 B$2.0 B
    Motor Vehicles (3361) $2.8 B$2.5 B$1.6 B$1.6 B$1.9 B
    Resin, Syn Rubber, Artf & Syn Fibers/Filaments (3252)$1.4 B$1.5 B$1.3 B$1.6 B$1.9 B
    Navigational/Measuring/Medical/Control Instrument (3341)$1.1 B$1.3 B$883 M$1.4 B$1.8 B
    Motor Vehicle Parts (3363)$2.3 B$1.9 B$1.4 B$1.3 B$19.4 B
    Engines, Turbines & Power Transmission Equipment (3336)$925 M$864 M$687 M$886 M$38.3 B
  • Top Ten Countries for Tennessee FDI

    Data current as of March 2023.

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    Foreign Country# of EstablishmentsTotal EmploymentCapital Investment
    Japan20456,045 $20,411,180,774
    Germany12920,935 $6,831,684,868
    United Kingdom11611,717$1,685,625,773
    Canada808,672$3,516,072,288
    France7611,120 $939,179,797
    Ireland667,749 $136,181,108
    Sweden335,859 $1,111,686,500
    Switzerland415,223 $1,165,654,904
    South Korea225,789 $5,577,105,161
    Italy322,686 $1,009,158,611

Tennessee's openness, friendship and also the fact that they are so dynamic. That is basically what brought us to make the decision to develop our business in Tennessee.

- FRANCO GUSSALI BERETTA, PRESIDENT, BERETTA
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WE’VE ENSURED THAT TENNESSEE
IS FIRMLY ENTRENCHED IN THE NEW GLOBAL ECONOMY.

Tennessee continues to proactively identify and recruit new foreign direct investment (FDI) to the state alongside efforts to increase Tennessee exports. Our state has offices courting foreign direct investment in Japan, South Korea, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the United Kingdom. We work closely with our federal partners to promote exports.

International Quick Facts

$40.9+

Billion in capital invested in Tennessee by foreign-based establishments

#2

In the U.S. for FDI job creation

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