International Business

With an international business sector that is both established and globally connected, it’s no wonder more than 160 multinational companies already call the Charleston region home.

Robert Bosch, a top contender on the Fortune Global 500 list, has been doing business from the region for more than 50 years, manufacturing its powertrain and mobility components in Dorchester County with several expansions throughout the years. Just up the road in Ridgeville, Volvo Car Corp. manufactures the all-electric Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3 SUVs, supporting more than 2,000 jobs at its South Carolina plant. Mercedes-Benz Vans operates in North Charleston, where a 2018 expansion increased production of Sprinter and eSprinter vans for Amazon and other customers.

International companies choose to grow here thanks to our unique global connectivity. Charleston’s location within the Southeastern United States — the fastest-growing region in the country — places companies at the center of expanding population, workforce growth, and consumer demand. Nearly one-third of the U.S. population is within 500 miles (800 km), making it easy to reach customers, suppliers, and partners up and down the East Coast. That access is strengthened by the Port of Charleston, which connects to more than 150 countries through 14 ocean carrier container lines, along with Charleston International Airport and several executive airports that keep leaders and clients moving efficiently.

Our region provides tailored support to international firms relocating here. The South Carolina Landing Pad Program is designed to assist growth-phase companies by providing temporary support, targeted resources and strategic connections to help your business validate the market, navigate the business environment, and scale with confidence.

Just as important, the region is known for being genuinely welcoming. With 20% of net annual population migration coming from international origins, teams from around the world find it easy to settle in, connect, and do business. That sense of openness, paired with strong infrastructure and proven success stories, continues to drive steady FDI in Charleston, SC and long-term confidence for global companies choosing to invest here.

Industrial real estate in the Charleston region is built for speed, scale, and long-term growth. Companies can choose from shovel-ready mega-sites, master-planned industrial parks, and modern logistics facilities positioned along major transportation corridors connecting the Southeast.

Camp Hall Industrial Park remains one of the region’s most visible sites, anchored by Volvo Cars’ Ridgeville manufacturing campus. Recognized as the No. 1 industrial park in the United States, Camp Hall sits along I-26 just 18 minutes from I-95 and within a half-hour of the Port of Charleston. The campus includes fiber connectivity, planned CSX/Palmetto Rail access, and hundreds of acres of development-ready land designed for large manufacturing footprints and global operations.

Across the region, additional industrial hubs support both manufacturing and distribution. Palmetto Commerce Park in North Charleston offers flexible build-to-suit opportunities close to Charleston International Airport and the Port of Charleston. Bushy Park Industrial Complex in Berkeley County provides thousands of acres of industrial land with direct rail access and proximity to deepwater port terminals. Ridgeville Industrial Campus continues to expand as a logistics hub serving major national retailers and regional distribution networks.

Altogether, the Charleston region offers tens of millions of square feet of industrial space available now or under development, with new facilities emerging along the I-26 corridor and near major port and rail connections. This range of shovel-ready sites, expandable campuses, and modern facilities gives international companies the flexibility to launch operations quickly and scale over time. For a closer look at current opportunities, explore our comprehensive database of available industrial sites across the region.

Foreign-owned companies in the Charleston region benefit from industry ecosystems that are already active, connected, and built to support long-term growth.

• Life sciences is an emerging strength, with more than 20% job growth across South Carolina from 2013–2023 and a growing presence of international firms in the region such as COSCIENS Biopharma, Belimed, and SHL Medical. Companies in this sector draw from a deepening talent pool with expertise in bioengineering, clinical trials and drug research, health IT and telemedicine, medical devices and diagnostics, and medical equipment.

Growth is further supported by commercialization resources such as the Medical University of South Carolina Zucker Institute for Innovation Commercialization, wet lab space at Blue Sky Labs, and industry advocacy from SCBio (which represents a $25.7 billion annual economic impact).

• Aerospace is one of the region’s most mature international industries. Irish-domiciled Eaton Corporation manufactures machined aerospace components in North Charleston, supported by a mature supply chain anchored by The Boeing Company. Boeing’s production facilities and Centers of Excellence for IT, Research & Technology, and Engineering Design continue to drive steady industry growth.
• Workforce readiness is a key advantage to the aerospace industry. Regional colleges, universities, and training centers have positioned the area as a top-10 mid-size metro for workforce growth in aircraft mechanics, computer hardware, and electrical engineering. The region also maintains a 5x higher concentration of aerospace manufacturing talent than the U.S. average, giving foreign-owned companies confidence they can hire, scale, and innovate locally.