South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is heading to Germany next week for an important mission: to strengthen business ties and further cement the state’s economic success. McMaster has been invited to attend the TDI conference, also known as the Day of German Industry, where he will give a keynote speech on South Carolina’s relationship with German companies and participate in a panel discussion.
South Carolina Commerce Secretary Harry Lightsey highlighted the state’s proactive approach in attracting companies from around the world, which has been key to its growth. In fact, South Carolina ranks second in the U.S. in a population-adjusted index that tracks foreign companies with distinct operations in the country, with Germany having the largest presence in the state, employing around 44,000 people across 262 facilities.
During his visit to Germany, McMaster plans to tour the headquarters of two major automakers that play a significant role in South Carolina’s economy: BMW in Munich and Volkswagen in Wolfsburg. In Munich, he will meet with BMW executives and learn about their expansion plans for Greer, where they currently employ over 11,000 people and have started a trend of foreign automakers establishing factories in the Southern region. In Wolfsburg, he will tour Volkswagen headquarters and see firsthand how Scout Motors is constructing a plant near Columbia to produce electric SUVs, expected to employ up to 4,000 people by 2027.
The Commerce Department emphasized that McMaster’s meetings with German executives are crucial for fostering international business relationships. The governor will return home on Thursday while Lightsey plans to extend his stay for additional meetings following the TDI conference that drew around 1,700 attendees last year.
