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From May 3–6, I had the opportunity to attend SelectUSA – the premier foreign direct investment summit in USA. My overall takeaway from the summit: the United States remains deeply committed to attracting global investment while broadening the definition of who benefits from international economic growth.
Held at the National Harbor in Maryland, the annual summit brought together thousands of participants including international business leaders, economic development organizations (EDOs), investors, federal officials, and service providers from across the globe. This year’s gathering emphasized innovation, strategic partnerships, advanced manufacturing, technology, and workforce development, while also spotlighting communities and voices that historically have not been central to foreign direct investment conversations.
I was pleased to participate in one of the featured discussions at SelectUSA – a panel on “Business Marketing: Innovative Strategies for Scaling in the U.S.” which explored how international companies can successfully position themselves within the highly competitive American marketplace. As a panelist, I shared insights on U.S. market entry, localization strategies, and the importance of culturally informed business development for foreign companies expanding into the United States.
The panel was moderated by Melinda Setenyi, Co-Founder, P&S International Strategies and other panelists were Piros Pazaurek, Honorary Consul of Hungary in Central Florida, and Joanne Sanders, President of EWise Communications from Atlanta. The conversation highlighted a recurring theme across the summit: entering the U.S. market requires more than establishing operations. Companies must also understand regional business culture, customer expectations, and relationship-building strategies that vary across industries and geographies.
One of the summit’s most notable developments was the increased visibility given to rural and tribal communities. For the first time, 25 such communities from across the U.S. were represented at the summit. Dedicated discussions around rural investment opportunities reflected a growing national effort to ensure that foreign direct investment reaches beyond major urban centers into smaller communities offering tremendous potential while seeking economic revitalization, job creation, and industrial growth.
The summit also underscored the growing strength of U.S.-India economic relations. India emerged as the largest investing country represented at the summit this year, announcing approximately $20.5 billion in investment into the United States across sectors including technology, manufacturing, life sciences, and clean energy. The announcement reinforced India’s expanding role as a major contributor to U.S. economic growth and innovation.
Keynote addresses and plenary sessions throughout the summit focused on the future of global competitiveness, resilient supply chains, artificial intelligence, and the role of foreign direct investment in strengthening American communities. Speakers repeatedly emphasized that investment attraction today extends beyond capital alone and increasingly includes talent development, innovation ecosystems, and long-term strategic collaboration between regions and international companies.
It was my honor to be a mentor for the continually expanding Select Global Women in Tech (SGWIT) mentorship program, which supports women entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world. Through yearlong mentoring sessions, networking opportunities, and targeted programming, SGWIT reinforced the summit’s broader emphasis on inclusive entrepreneurship and global leadership development. I met dynamic women entrepreneurs from several countries, including France, Morocco, and Indonesia and look forward to staying engaged with them all year through the specialized mentor-mentee platform.
Networking remained central to my summit experience. I met with delegates while participating in industry receptions, through one-on-one meetings, the speed networking sessions, and exclusive country and embassy events. State and local night on May 5 was a highlight, allowing economic developers from across the United States to showcase their regions’ specialties along with competitive advantages in a welcoming, social environment.
As the 2026 summit concluded, the overall message was clear: the United States remains the largest FDI destination in the world, and the future of U.S. investment attraction is becoming more globally connected, more regionally inclusive, and increasingly collaborative across sectors and communities. I look forward to participating in the next edition, scheduled May 2-5, 2027, at National Harbor.
Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article/column are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of South Asian Herald.
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