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In a changing trade landscape, global companies still find opportunity in Greater Richmond
March 24, 2026
At last year’s Greater Richmond Partnership’s annual meeting, executives from global companies delivered a clear message: Richmond works.
Leaders from firms based in Germany, Austria, Japan, and beyond pointed to the region’s logistics network, talent pipeline, and collaborative business environment as reasons operations continue to grow here.
Since then, the global trade conversation has shifted again with the recent Supreme Court ruling on tariffs and the policy responses that followed.
Yet the fundamentals that shape investment decisions remain steady. Companies evaluating expansion still look for access to the U.S. market, a capable workforce, efficient supply chains, and communities where long-term growth is possible.
The Richmond Region continues to offer exactly that.
The executives participating in the annual meeting offered useful perspectives for companies evaluating where to invest in the United States. Across industries, their experiences pointed to several factors that continue to shape successful expansion decisions.
1. Supply chain access still matters
For companies expanding in the United States, logistics often plays a decisive role. Access to suppliers, transportation infrastructure, and international shipping routes can determine how efficiently operations scale.
That proximity to suppliers helped establish Richmond as the East Coast hub for Sapporo-Stone Brewing.
Several of our key suppliers are located here we get our cans, paperboard, glass — many of the materials we need — from nearby partners. Being closer to our supply chain makes a real difference.
Robert Kuntz
Frmr. Senior Director of Brewing Operations
Sapporo-Stone Brewing
Global manufacturers also continue to weigh access to ports and international shipping routes when selecting expansion sites.
“Proximity to the ports and the logistics network here made Richmond a natural place for our U.S. distribution,” said Luis Maturana of KSB, a German manufacturer that has expanded operations in the region.
In a trade environment shaped by shifting policy and legal uncertainty, dependable access to suppliers and global markets has become even more valuable. Richmond’s position along the East Coast — supported by the Port of Virginia and a strong regional logistics network — helps provide that stability.
2. Talent determines long-term growth
Logistics may influence an initial location decision, but workforce strength often determines how an operation grows over time.
Companies competing for engineers, scientists, and technical specialists increasingly look for regions that combine strong universities with a high quality of life.
That dynamic has helped companies attract talent to the Richmond Region.
“It’s difficult to find scientists and engineers everywhere in the U.S.,” said Reinhard Eberl of Anton Paar USA, whose Richmond-area headquarters supports operations across North and South America. “But Richmond has been a very favorable place to attract people.”
Access to universities such as Virginia Commonwealth University, along with the region’s livability and affordability, continues to support talent recruitment from across the United States and internationally.
3. Regional collaboration simplifies expansion
For companies entering a new market, navigating multiple jurisdictions can quickly become complicated. Regions that coordinate across local governments and economic development organizations can make that process far easier.
The Richmond region has built a reputation for that kind of alignment.
“When you show the collaboration across counties and the way the region works together for companies, that makes a big difference,” said Maturana.
That coordination helps companies move from planning to execution more smoothly.
The collaboration between the region’s economic development partners makes it easier for companies like ours to grow
Matthew Greiner
Weidmüller USA.
Rather than presenting a fragmented landscape, the region offers a coordinated approach that helps companies navigate expansion with clarity and confidence.
Why these fundamentals matter now
Trade policy will continue to evolve. Court rulings, tariffs, and policy responses will shape the environment for global investment in the years ahead.
What tends to remain constant are the fundamentals companies look for when they invest: access to markets, reliable supply chains, and the ability to recruit and retain talent.
Greater Richmond continues to deliver on those fundamentals. Over the past five years, international companies have been responsible for nearly a quarter of all announced jobs, capital investment, and projects in the region.
As the global investment landscape shifts, that track record reinforces what companies have recognized for decades: Richmond is a place where international business can grow.
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For companies exploring opportunities in the Richmond Region, GRP’s International Concierge program provides a starting point for navigating market entry, partnerships, and expansion.
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