Finding Their Home: Overseas Companies Migrating to California

California is a global economic powerhouse, ranking fifth worldwide and first in the United States. Unsurprisingly, many overseas companies are moving to California to grow their businesses, ready to take advantage of the state’s many benefits.

To understand why foreign investors and companies choose California as their new home, it’s essential to explore what sets California apart and creates such impressive economic prosperity. This article also dives into case studies to investigate how they developed after moving to the Golden State.

Why California?

California’s economy

is one of the best in the world, attracting foreign investments and overseas companies. Here are a few reasons why:

Varied Economy: California’s economy comprises several sectors: media (in Hollywood) and technology (in the San Francisco Bay Area). This diversity attracts all types of foreign companies.
Agriculture: California’s weather and fertile soil make it perfect for growing many crops, such as cannabis, nuts, grapes, and oranges. The production of these crops boosts the state’s economy.
Seaports: Most of the state is along the Pacific coast, which has led to the construction of major seaports that can handle a large shipping volume.
Infrastructure: Besides impressive seaports, California has a large railway and interstate highway system for simple product transport.
Workforce: California is home to a large population and several top universities (such as Stanford University and the University of California, Los Angeles), attracting top talent and a large variety of talents and skills.

Case Studies

Many foreign companies call California home and enjoy the benefits of living and working in the world’s fifth-best economy. Here are examples of thriving businesses that migrated to California and experienced its positive advantages firsthand:

M.gear US

Another Californian success story comes from the Taiwanese giant who opened up as M.gear here. M.gear US uses wireless connectivity and radio technologies for wireless infrastructure, such as industrial routers and cellular network antennas.

Morisawa USA Inc.

Morisawa USA creates beautiful fonts with legibility as a priority, helping companies reach a broader audience by making their logos and advertisements more accessible to those who are visually impaired.

The Japanese company began in San Francisco in 2014. Morisawa USA chose California for its high volume of startups, which are likely in need of fonts and designs.

Its Californian location gave it access to a broad customer base: Morisawa USA has designed fonts for several high-profile companies. Examples include Volvo, Clash Royale, and Cadillac.

With over 1400 successfully completed projects and over 400 expert employees, M.gear is a well-known force in the wireless connectivity landscape.

California has proven to be an excellent choice of location for M.gear, allowing it to take advantage of the state’s technologically skilled workforce and top communications experts.

Agiloc International, Inc.

Agiloc International is an Indonesian company that specializes in international trade logistics. It facilitates smooth trade between the Asian and Californian markets, ensuring compliance and efficiency for its customers.

Agiloc International relies on its Californian location due to the state’s infrastructure. The company needs the state’s ports, railroads, and highways to transport products quickly.

Hyundai Motor Company

The South Korean Hyundai Motor Company is the fifth largest automaker in the world. Its vehicles are incredibly popular worldwide because of their safety, affordability, and innovative designs.

Its US headquarters are in California, which allows it to partner with technological innovation in Silicon Valley and hire world-class engineers and problem solvers from the state’s renowned universities.

As with most companies, California’s status as an international transport hub helps Hyundai sell its products to the world market easily and efficiently.

Verona Quartz Inc.

Verona Quartz, a family-owned quartz stone supplier, sells its products to a vast market of commercial clients, architects, designers, and more.

Verona Quartz found California to be a perfect home because of how closely the state’s climate and labor policies align with its values. Verona Quartz is dedicated to limiting the air pollution and gas emissions it produces, as well as using renewable energy. California’s climate policies align closely with this.

Zoomo

Zoomo is an Australian e-bike company that has seen major growth in the Californian market since its beginning in 2019. California’s steep hills make it a perfect market for electric bikes, and its climate protections align with Zoomo’s priorities of keeping emissions as low as possible.

California: A world of opportunity

If you want to start a business

, California may be the perfect spot! The state’s endless opportunities and friendly small-business policies make it an attractive region for companies in all sectors.

Foreign companies continue to look toward California for the chance to grow internationally. Its top economic status, high-quality infrastructure, and skilled workforce are among the many reasons several businesses have developed successfully in the Golden State.

Jackie Crowley, California Business Journal