South Carolina is built for the new economy. Industry magazine Business Facilities recently recognized the state for many of the attributes C-Suite executives and small business owners alike have already come to appreciate.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is pivotal to South Carolina’s economy, accounting for more than 30% of announced economic development investments in 2023 alone. Today, over 1,100 internationally owned operations exist statewide — even for those with locations throughout the world, South Carolina-based operations stand out in helping drive global success.

When a state is rich in natural beauty, from the rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains to scenic sandy beaches, it’s hard to keep many destinations a secret. The word has long been out that South Carolina is a top stop, with its world-class golf courses and reigning destination cities, to name just a few.

May 2024 marks a monumental milestone for Sonoco — globally headquartered in Hartsville, S.C. — 125 fantastic years in the packaging industry. From a team of 12 in a rented warehouse to Fortune 500 status with an international team of approximately 23,000 across more than 300 operations, Sonoco proudly serves some of the world’s best-known brands in industrial, consumer and several other markets.

On April 1, 2024, S.C. Commerce named Annie Caggiano the agency’s new Global Business Development director. Caggiano, who is on her second stint with S.C. Commerce and previously served as a business recruitment manager, brings nearly 20 years of economic development experience to the role.

On the heels of a record-setting 2022, economic development throughout South Carolina showed few signs of slowing down in 2023. On Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, S.C. Commerce announced its 2023 recruitment results, highlighted by a total capital investment of $9.22 billion — the second-highest amount in state history.