Montgomery County Highlights International Investment Opportunities at SelectUSA 2026
Last week, delegates and representatives from the state of Maryland and Montgomery County, including Governor Wes Moore, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, and MCEDC representatives attended the 2026 SelectUSA Investment Summit, the premier event in the United States dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, SelectUSA, which took place in Maryland this year, connects investors, companies, economic development organizations, and industry experts to facilitate business investment in the United States.
Throughout the week, Maryland representatives met with potential international investors to discuss why international companies from around the world choose Maryland and Montgomery County to expand their U.S. footprint. Located near three international airports (Washington Dulles, Ronald Reagan, and BWI), Montgomery County offers companies a strong talent pipelines, close proximity to strategic partners, including the FDA, NIH, and NIST, hundreds of local parks, forests, award-winning restaurants, vineyards, gold courses, and entertainment venues, and is home to three out of five of the most ethnically diverse cities in the nation (Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, and Germantown). Global companies are also able to take advantage of the many incentives and programs Maryland and Montgomery County offer, including the Maryland Global Gateway Soft Landing Program, which helps international companies enter the U.S. market by providing resources, mentorship, and subsidized office space at Maryland incubators.
“Maryland is where global partnerships turn into opportunity,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller at the conference. “My own journey connects India and Maryland and today, that same spirit is shaping our work at SelectUSA. We’re building partnerships that create jobs, grow our economy, and turn ideas into results. If you’re looking to invest, innovate, and grow then Maryland is your address.”
The SelectUSA conference follows a wave of foreign companies putting down roots and expanding in Montgomery County. In March, South Korea’s largest biotech company, Samsung Biologics, celebrated the opening of its first U.S.-based manufacturing site. The contract development and manufacturing leader expanded into the U.S. market through its acquisition of the former Human Genome Sciences facility in Rockville, retaining more than 500 jobs. Additionally, in February, Finnish climate intelligence leader Vaisala Xweather, opened a new office in Gaithersburg with 20 employees, with plans to hire more soon.
