Montgomery County Hosts Foreign Companies Interested In Establishing U.S. Operations

Montgomery County, Maryland is a renowned hub for companies across all industries, including life sciences, technology, and hospitality. Located just steps from Washington, DC, the County is home to hundreds of global and international companies, which are attracted to the area due to its diversity—3 out of the top ten most diverse cities, including Germantown, Gaithersburg and Silver Spring are located here—and its well-established business ecosystem.  

This past month, Montgomery County Government officials, representatives of Maryland Department of Commerce, the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, Rockville Economic Development Inc., the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the Universities at Shady Grove, Montgomery College, and others hosted over 40 companies from Japan, China, and Canada that are interested in expanding their operations into the U.S. market. The companies, which work across the life sciences, technology, and hospitality sectors, received tours of relevant organizations and spaces, and met with key partners to learn more about the county’s strategic location, business community and quality of life. Representatives also discussed the various incentives available to foreign companies looking to move to the County. 

The Japanese and Canadian delegation visit, which was co-organized with Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), focused on Maryland’s vast life sciences industry, of which Montgomery County is the anchor of. During the visit, representatives from Canadian and Japanese businesses toured the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) and heard about the depth of talent located in Montgomery County from Montgomery County Executive and USG Executive Director and Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, University System of Maryland Dr. Anne Khademian, and Montgomery College’s Dr. Collins Jones.

Additionally, the companies toured Propel Labs 2.0, an incubator program for life science companies on the cusp of growth in Germantown, and the Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF), which recently opened a regional biotech incubator tailored to the needs of startups and small companies developing dual-use (military and civilian) medical technologies in North Bethesda, during which they were able to hear from innovative companies that have chosen to scale in Montgomery County, including Pediametrix and Lumo Imaging.

With its strategic location, diverse talent pool, and strong business ecosystem offering programs like the Global Gateway Soft Landing Program and the MOVE grant, Montgomery County serves as a launchpad for many foreign companies looking to find their footing in the United States, while also offering their employees an exceptional quality of life.