PHOTO VIA ORLANDO ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP FACEBOOK PAGE
The Orlando Economic Partnership (Website) just released its 2026 Global Orlando report, a data-driven look at how the region is attracting foreign companies, growing international trade, and positioning itself to compete for global investment, beyond theme parks and tourism.
According to their findings, at least 340 foreign-owned companies from more than 30 countries now operate in the Orlando region, employing an estimated 40,000 people. Global trade through the region reached $27.4 billion in 2024, up 39% from pre-pandemic levels. Over the last decade, the region has attracted $2.7 billion in foreign direct investment capital. The United Kingdom is the single largest source of foreign-owned companies in Orlando, followed by Canada and Germany. Prominent names already here include Siemens, Mitsubishi Power, DHL, Deloitte, Thales, KPMG, and ABB.
The region’s workforce is increasingly international as well. Nearly 1 in 4 Orlando residents was born outside the United States, the fastest-growing foreign-born population of any large region in the country. At least 39 languages are spoken in the metro area. More than half of Orlando’s foreign-born residents are of prime working age, making them a key input to the region’s labor force of 1.5 million people.
The Partnership says its strategy for growing foreign investment now focuses on three priority sectors where Orlando has a demonstrated track record: Digital Technology, Business Services, and Aerospace & Defense. The report notes Orlando captures 6.4% of Southeast U.S. aerospace foreign investment, roughly double its expected share, anchored by what the report describes as the world’s largest modeling, simulation, and training cluster. Two additional sectors, Advanced Manufacturing and Life Sciences & Healthcare, are identified as longer-term growth targets.
The full report is available at InvestOrlando.org.
