Tampa has been ranked the best U.S. city for foreign multinationals to do business, topping the latest Financial Times–Nikkei “Investing in America” rankings.
The annual report, now in its third edition, evaluates more than four dozen indicators considered important by foreign investors, including business environment, workforce availability, infrastructure, openness to international commerce and quality of life. Tampa rose 26 spots from its previous position, surpassing larger and historically dominant metropolitan areas.
The city’s climb was driven by gains across multiple categories.
The report credited Tampa’s competitive business climate, supported by a decline in utility costs, as well as a significant reduction in crime rates that strengthened its quality-of-life score.
The new “trade war resilience” category, added this year, also played a role, which assesses the vulnerability of a local economy to disruptions in global supply chains by examining reliance on imports and exports. Tampa’s more diversified economic profile compared to trade-dependent cities gave it an edge in the updated methodology.
Including Tampa, Florida placed three cities in the top ten. Orlando ranked fourth, climbing nine spots from last year, with strengths in workforce and talent, business environment and investment trends. Miami placed ninth, down three spots, with the report noting its continued draw for foreign capital but greater exposure to trade flows that could be affected by global market volatility.
Houston, the 2023 leader, dropped amid concerns over export-oriented economies and reliance on imports from countries such as Mexico.
