International Investment Benefits the Kansas Economy

Investment in Kansas by international companies is important to the state economy. Attracting these investments is one of the International Division’s main strategies for growing the Kansas economy.

Investments by majority foreign-owned firms can take the form of significant capital and managerial investment into an existing business; acquiring, merging, or forming a joint venture with an existing business; or opening an office, distribution operations, or manufacturing facilities in Kansas.  These investments have a significant impact on the Kansas economy in a number of ways.

Public focus is often on direct economic impact, such as capital imported into the state to construct facilities or open offices. Jobs creation is also an important component of direct economic impact from international investment.

Some job statistics from latest available data illustrate the direct impact. (Bureau of Economic Analysis)

• 623 global employers had operations in Kansas Department of Commerce
• 74,600 jobs in Kansas resulted from international investment
• 27,300 manufacturing of those jobs are in the manufacturing sector
• Foreign direct investment job growth was 28% between 2016 and 2021

The impact of international investments, though, runs deeper than the direct economic impact. When international companies commit to long-term investments in the state to support their growth, they often offer benefits that have lasting impact but that are not always readily visible to the public:

• knowledge-sharing and exposure to new processes
• opportunities for collaborative innovation research and development
• access to equipment and technologies
• access to supply chains
• workforce development
• ties between Kansas and global partners that create opportunities for Kansas-based companies

These benefits all help to make Kansas companies and the Kansas business ecosystem more competitive domestically and globally.

Kansas is an attractive state for international investment due to our inviting business climate; leadership in targeted industry sectors such as aviation and renewable energy; access to skilled workforce; opportunities for industry and university partnerships; desirable available sites; strong infrastructure and trade infrastructure; central location in North America; quality of life; and competitive economic incentives.

Capitalizing on these strengths, the Kansas Department of Commerce International Division has been able to secure impactful deals such as the Panasonic Battery Plant and the Great Plains Manufacturing Facility to construct equipment for Kubota that are already increasing the impact of international investment in the state.

Read here to learn more about our team’s international investment recruitment efforts for Kansas.

Laurie Pieper, Ph.D., CGBP

Assistant Director, Global Resources

International Division, Kansas Department of Commerce