Although South Carolina has always been a globally-connected state, our significant international footprint really began to develop in the mid-1970s, when European industry heavyweights Bosch and Michelin established operations within our borders. Two decades later, in the early 1990s, BMW joined the state's business community, transforming the way South Carolina is viewed around the world.
With this influx of globally-recognized companies, we became a brand state. Now known the world over as a top destination for international business, South Carolina is home to more than 1,200 operations of foreign-based firms. And, those facilities pack a major economic punch.
New data published this week by the federal government shows that these internationally-owned facilities employ more than 140,000 workers within our borders. That equates to seven percent of the state's total private sector employment; and, with South Carolina's foreign direct investment success over the last few years, that number is only expected to rise.
As it does, and as Team South Carolina attracts more industry from across the globe, our economy will continue to thrive, ensuring prosperity for the people of this state for years to come.