Washington, DC: An International Capital
The city provides unparalleled transportation convenience and direct access to a global community, with three international airports offering access to 183 worldwide destinations.
With more than 640 international companies having a presence in the metropolitan area and 176 embassies calling the nation's capital home, the international community is woven into the fabric of the city, making it one of the most dynamic cities in the world.
International-Based Companies
The Washington, DC MSA is home to 643 international-based companies, representing 67 foreign countries.
Nearly half of international companies in the MSA are based in Europe, and a quarter are based in Asia.
Darker shades on the map represent a higher number of local offices in the Washington, DC metro area
Companies headquartered in the United Kingdom represent the largest international presence in the MSA, with 138 companies, including AstraZeneca (pharmaceuticals & biotechnology), Deloitte (management consulting), and The Economist Group (media).
The largest international-based company in the metro area is Accenture, based in Ireland, with 743,000 global employees.
Nearly half (45%) of international-based companies in the Washington, DC MSA are in the Information Technology sector, particularly focused on Business Productivity Software. Other top industries are Business Products and Services (B2B) (23%) and Healthcare (13%).
Over 200 international companies have offices in Washington, DC, many located in downtown. 3 20,800 workers in the city are employed by a majority foreign-owned company. This includes 3,100 employees in retail, 2,800 employees in professional, scientific, and technical services, and 1,600 in information industries. 4
This map highlights select international-based companies in Washington, DC.
PitchBook Data, Inc. (March 2024)
Foreign Direct Investment
From 2013 to 2022, 140 Greenfield FDI projects were announced in Washington, DC spending an estimated $1.9 billion on capital expenditure and creating an estimated 6,811 jobs, according to FDI Markets. 4
The top three industries for FDI in Washington, DC were Real Estate, Software & IT Services, and Hotels & Tourism. Companies based in the United Kingdom invested the most in the city with $358 million over the past decade. China and Japan have the highest average capital expenditure per project at $54 million and $41 million, respectively.
Foreign investment has supported the city's revitalization efforts by bringing jobs and needed services to communities throughout DC. The map below highlights just a few of these catalytic projects.
City Ridge
Located three miles from downtown DC, City Ridge is a $715 million retail project financed by the Japanese North America Sekisui House and completed in 2022 by Roadside Development. It includes 170k SF of office, 690 units, and 196k SF of retail.
Meridiam
Meridiam Infrastructure North America is the American subsidiary of the French Investment Management firm. It relocated its headquarters from New York to Downtown DC in 2023. The office space is 20,000 square feet and employs 60 people.
Marriott Marquis
Marriott Marqius is a 1.1M SF hotel in downtown Washington. The 2014 project cost $520 million and was principally funded by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund and EB-5 investments.
City Center DC
City Center DC is a six building 1.6 M SF $700 million mixed use project with 674 apartment units with funding from the Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company. It includes 515K SF of office space, 674 residential units, and 185K Sf of retail space.
The Bazaar by Jose Andres
The Bazaar, a restaurant, by José Andrés was partially funded by EB-5 investments. EB-5 capital helps foreign investors obtain permanent U.S. residency through real estate projects.
Skyland
Skyland Town Center is an 18.5-acre multi-phased, mixed-use project that was partially funded by EB-5 investments and Tax Increment Financing. Phase I & II have opened and included 263 multifamily units and DC's first Lidl, a German grocery store.
City Ridge
Located three miles from downtown DC, City Ridge is a $715 million retail project financed by the Japanese North America Sekisui House and completed in 2022 by Roadside Development. It includes 170k SF of office, 690 units, and 196k SF of retail.
Meridiam
Meridiam Infrastructure North America is the American subsidiary of the French Investment Management firm. It relocated its headquarters from New York to Downtown DC in 2023. The office space is 20,000 square feet and employs 60 people.
Marriott Marquis
Marriott Marqius is a 1.1M SF hotel in downtown Washington. The 2014 project cost $520 million and was principally funded by the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund and EB-5 investments.
City Center DC
City Center DC is a six building 1.6 M SF $700 million mixed use project with 674 apartment units with funding from the Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company. It includes 515K SF of office space, 674 residential units, and 185K Sf of retail space.
The Bazaar by Jose Andres
The Bazaar, a restaurant, by José Andrés was partially funded by EB-5 investments. EB-5 capital helps foreign investors obtain permanent U.S. residency through real estate projects.
Skyland
Skyland Town Center is an 18.5-acre multi-phased, mixed-use project that was partially funded by EB-5 investments and Tax Increment Financing. Phase I & II have opened and included 263 multifamily units and DC's first Lidl, a German grocery store.
Embassies
Embassies offer a gateway to international markets and customers. Washington, DC is home to embassies from 176 countries on six continents
Embassy Row, stretching 2.5 miles along Massachusetts Avenue, is home to 60+ embassies - representing the largest concentration in the city.
Resources
There are several resources to help international companies expand and invest in Washington, DC, including:
The soft landing program provides access to discounted, flexible office space in the city's Penn West Equity & Innovation District, visa solutions, customer research & market intelligence, community tours, networking opportunities, regulatory guidance, and connections to local service providers.
The Employment Center Vitality and Local Jobs Creation Fund is a multi-year, performance-based incentive program designed to support existing companies in target industries that are actively planning to relocate, expand, or retain their physical location in Washington, DC.
The Creative and Open Space Modernization (COSM) tax rebate is an incentive program designed to support the growth of large companies in the District. The tax rebate can support large scale capital investments in a company’s business location.
The DC Department of Employment Services (DOES) offers recruitment and hiring support, and a variety of workforce development and training programs to help District employers including On-the-Job Training and Apprenticeship Programs.
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) is the District government agency that designs and implements strategies to encourage companies to choose, stay, and grow in DC. Washington DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP) is a nonprofit, public-private partnership that leads business attraction efforts for the District. DMPED and WDCEP collaborate to advance the Mayor’s economic development strategy, with the primary focus of creating and retaining jobs to further drive sustainable, economic inclusion for the District of Columbia.
A step-by-step guide for international companies looking to establish a business in Washington, DC in compliance with federal and district laws.
A global network of 750,000 affiliated businesses, spanning 330 trade centers, in over 100 countries. As the first and only federal building dedicated to both government and private use, it is mandated by Congress to bring together the country’s best public and private resources to create a national forum for the advancement of trade. Designated as the official World Trade Center, Washington, DC, the building houses a premier conference and event center, executive office space, retail and dining, and offers community entertainment and programming.
The International Assistance Program is a one-stop shop of referral resources for companies looking to enter the US market. The referral list includes a vetted list of companies and contacts who clearly exhibit some of the best in class services and have with experience working with international companies.
Contact
The Washington, DC Economic Partnership is a 501(c)(3) organization that connects public and private sectors, neighborhoods, and communities to local, national and international audience to advance sustainable, equitable and inclusive economic development.
Audrey Polk, Vice President of Corporate Attraction, (540) 250-5247, apolk@wdcep.com
Sources
1 U.S. Census Bureau. "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States." American Community Survey, ACS 1-Year Estimates Data Profiles, Table DP02, 2022
2 U.S. Census Bureau. “Detailed Languages Spoken at Home and Ability to Speak English for the Population 5 Years and Over: 2009-2013.” 2022
3 PitchBook Data, Inc., March 2024
4 Select USA, 2023
