Foreign direct investment Florida — Nextpay Global cross-border payments Central Florida — Nextpay Global helps international companies manage FX and cross-border payments in Central Florida

Florida foreign investment is accelerating faster than most international businesses realise. Florida is no longer just a tourism and retirement destination — it is one of the most dynamic Florida foreign investment destinations in the United States. If your company is establishing or expanding operations in Central Florida, understanding the Florida foreign investment landscape is the first step.

Florida Foreign Investment: A State Built for Global Business

Florida punches well above its weight on the world stage. According to SelectFlorida’s Trade & FDI research, in 2024 nearly $197 billion in goods flowed through Florida’s airports and seaports — reinforcing the state’s role as a genuine global trade hub. The state is the 6th largest export state in the US, with Florida-origin exports reaching $72.2 billion.

The employment picture is equally compelling. Foreign-owned firms in Florida support over 417,000 jobs and account for $97.7 billion in gross property, plant, and equipment investment — a figure that grew 4.5% in a single year. Florida recorded the 3rd largest increase in FDI-related employment in the entire country, and over the past decade the number of FDI-supported jobs has grown by 60%.

Most recently, fiscal year 2024–2025 saw SelectFlorida establish 35 new Florida foreign investment projects, resulting in more than $301 million in capital investment and 2,500+ new jobs — part of a record-breaking $1.9 billion in export sales for the year.

Florida’s overall economy, with a Gross State Product of approximately $1.7 trillion, is the fourth-largest in the US and ranks as the 15th largest economy in the world — ahead of Spain and behind South Korea.

The Sectors Attracting the Most International Investment

Florida’s economy has transformed over the past 30 years. Once anchored by agriculture, construction, and tourism, it has deliberately diversified into higher-wage, globally competitive sectors. Here is where international businesses are planting their flags:

Life Sciences & MedTech

Florida foreign investment in life sciences is growing rapidly with approximately 6,700 life sciences companies employing around 100,000 workers. The Pinellas County corridor on the west coast is a recognised hub for medical technology, while Central Florida drives innovation through university research parks and simulation technology. European life sciences and pharmaceutical companies increasingly use Florida as their US launchpad.

Aerospace & Defense

With more than 2,300 aerospace and aviation companies in the state, Florida is a global player in this sector. The Space Coast around Kennedy Space Center — home to SpaceX, NASA, and the US Space Force — is drawing a growing cluster of manufacturers and R&D firms. International companies such as AURA AERO (France) have announced major manufacturing facilities in Florida, creating thousands of jobs. The UK-headquartered Field International recently selected Florida for its US headquarters after a nationwide search.

Technology & Financial Services

Orlando ranks consistently among the top US cities for job creation, with $113.4 billion generated from the tech sector. The Central Florida Research Park — one of the largest in the country — employs over 53,000 people. At the same time, major financial firms have relocated from high-tax states like New York, drawn by Florida’s zero state income tax and its proximity to Latin American markets.

Real Estate & Professional Services

Real estate and development is Florida’s single largest economic contributor, accounting for an estimated 23.3% of Gross State Product. International law firms, real estate developers, and professional services companies are expanding steadily as the population migration to Florida continues.

Hospitality & Tourism

Florida welcomed a record 143.3 million tourists in 2025. International hotel groups, restaurant chains, and hospitality operators view Central Florida — with its dual airport infrastructure in Orlando and Tampa — as an essential footprint for their North American operations.

Why Companies Choose Central Florida Specifically

Within the broader Florida story, the Tampa–Orlando corridor holds a distinctive position. Central Florida offers:

No state income tax — a decisive advantage for international structures
Dual international airports — Orlando International and Tampa International, both with direct transatlantic routes
Port Tampa Bay — Florida’s largest port by tonnage and a key node for import/export operations
World-class research infrastructure — UCF, USF, and their affiliated research parks
A young, multilingual workforce with strong Spanish and Portuguese language capability
A growing British business community — actively supported through networks such as the BABC Central Florida

The FX Challenge Hiding Inside Florida’s Foreign Investment Boom

Here is what the headlines about Florida’s FDI growth rarely address: every international company that establishes or expands here faces a cross-border payments challenge from day one.

Consider the practicalities:

Paying overseas suppliers, contractors, or parent-company invoices in multiple currencies
Receiving revenue in USD when operating costs are in GBP, EUR, or another currency
Managing payroll across jurisdictions with fluctuating exchange rates
Repatriating profits without losing a significant margin to bank spreads and hidden fees

Most international companies entering the US market default to using their existing banking relationship for FX — often a legacy arrangement that was never designed for the volume or speed of cross-border transactions they now need. The result is an invisible but material cost to the business.

How Nextpay Global Supports International Companies in Central Florida

Nextpay Global was built specifically for businesses operating across borders. Headquartered in Central Florida — with offices in both Tampa and Orlando — we work alongside international companies at every stage of their US journey, backed by the infrastructure of Corpay (NYSE: CPAY), one of the world’s leading FX and cross-border payments networks.

For international companies establishing or growing their presence in Florida, we provide:

Multi-currency accounts— hold, convert, and pay in 145+ currencies without unnecessary conversion loops
FX risk management — forward contracts, rate alerts, and hedging strategies to protect your margins against currency volatility
Cross-border payment infrastructure — access to 200+ countries, 100+ correspondent banks, and $133B+ in annual FX volume
Local expertise, global reach — a Central Florida team that understands the specific needs of UK, European, and international businesses entering the US market

Whether you are a life sciences company managing clinical trial payments across multiple jurisdictions, an aerospace manufacturer with a European supply chain, or a property developer repatriating profits to your home country, Nextpay Global gives you the tools and relationships to do it efficiently.

Ready to see what your cross-border payments could look like?

Our Free FX Review is a no-obligation platform demonstration and benchmarking session — we show you exactly how your current FX arrangements compare, and what a more efficient setup could look like for your business. Book your Free FX Review today.

The Bottom Line

Florida’s position as a global business destination is not a temporary trend — it reflects structural advantages that are compounding year on year. For international companies, the Florida foreign investment opportunity is real and the timing is strong. The question is not whether to invest in Florida, but how to ensure that the money you move across borders works as hard as the business decisions behind it.

Nextpay Global is here to make sure it does.

Why Florida Is the World’s Gateway for Business — And What It Means for Your Cross-Border Payments