Do Business Here

International Companies

Welcoming Business From Around the World

The Savannah region is a vibrant, progressive, diverse, forward-thinking business community and home to many international businesses including the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc and the North and South American headquarters of JCB, Inc.

Savannah’s ideal location on the Atlantic Ocean in the southeastern part of the United States puts 70 percent of the U.S. population within a two-day drive by ground, water, rail or air.

Savannah is home to the fastest-growing port in the nation, connected to the most extensive surface transportation network in the United States, and includes the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport, which has seven direct flights to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest and most efficient passenger airport. The state of Georgia is also home to 42 bi-national chambers of commerce and more than 25 foreign governments have operations in Georgia.

In Savannah, SEDA works with our partners, which include World Trade Center Savannah (licensed by SEDA), the City of Savannah, Chatham County, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Power and others, to promote and actively locate international businesses to Savannah as well as facilitate the transition to locating, hiring employees and opening a business in Savannah.

And just ask any business that has opened its doors here — you will be instantly welcomed with open arms. The Savannah business community will be there for you from day one, making you a part of our community and instantly connecting you to the resources you need to succeed.

3rd

Port of Savannah is the busiest container gateway port in the nation

Institution Fall 2022 Enrollment
Georgia Southern University 24,936
Savannah College of Art and Design 16,218
South University 9,955
College of Coastal Georgia 3,043
Savannah State University 2,926
University of South Carolina-Beaufort 2,006
Point University - Dual Enrollment only 1,874
East Georgia State College 1,519
Georgia Institute of Technology - Professional Development* 1,500
Columbia College 600
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University** 250
Saint Leo University** 139
Mercer University School of Medicine 120
$54,288

Chatham County
average wage

World Trade Center Savannah

World Trade Center Savannah (WTCSav), the international division of the Savannah Economic Development Authority, forges a path for businesses in the Savannah region to compete more effectively in the global marketplace and works to identify foreign direct investment opportunities for the region. A member of the World Trade Centers Association, WTCSav is part of a network of hundreds of World Trade Centers in 100 countries with more than one million corporate members and associates.

Through the combined networks of international trade and business development experts, WTCSav meets the specific needs of its partners and clients. World Trade Center Savannah provides:

  • International market research
  • Trade advocacy and consultation
  • Business matchmaking
  • Connections to valuable public and private resources
  • Helps with facilitation and planning of strategic trade missions
  • Global Educational Programs and networking events

World Trade Center Savannah is also the administrator of Foreign-Trade Zone 104, which allows delayed, reduced and sometimes eliminated duty payment on foreign merchandise admitted to a zone, as well as other savings.

Foreign-Trade Zone 104

For more than 75 years, the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) program has been instrumental in promoting international trade, economic development and job creation in the United States. Authorized by the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of 1934, the FTZ program expedites and encourages foreign commerce by lowering the costs of U.S. based operations engaged in international trade. Companies operating FTZs have become a thriving sector in the economy.

World Trade Center Savannah is the grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone 104.

Cost Benefits

Duty Deferral – Customs duties deferred on imports improves cash flow
Duty Elimination – No duty or quota charges on re-exports. No duty on waste, scrap or defective parts
Inverted Tariff – Duty paid at the lower tariff rate of the imported component or finished product
Weekly Entry – Reductions in merchandise processing fees due to weekly entry
Tax Savings – Inventory may be exempt from local and state inventory taxes

Additional Benefits
  • Domestic and international merchandise can be warehoused together
  • No time limit for storage
  • Tighter inventory controls may eliminate year-end inventory loss adjustments
  • Zone to zone transfers
  • Direct delivery potential

FTZ 104 Region

To learn more about FTZ 104 click here.

International Employers

Legend: Headquarters in Savannah headquarter

Company Product/Service Industry Country of Origin
BASF Catalysts LLC Refining Catalyst Manufacturing Germany
Bram Industries (Bramli USA) Plastics Manufacturer Manufacturing Israel
CRH Americas Building Materials Manufacturing Ireland
DIRTT Environmental Solutions Ltd. Modular interior construction solution Manufacturing Canada
DS2 Aircraft Maintenance on Hunter Aerospace Spain
EMD Performance Materials Corporation Industrial pigments Manufacturing Germany
Fuji Vegetable Oil Inc. Cooking Oils Manufacturer Specialty Food & Beverage Manufacturing Japan
IKEA Wholesale, Inc. Furniture distribution Logistics & Distribution Sweden
Imperial Sugar Refined Sugar Manufacturer Specialty Food & Beverage Manufacturing France
Interfor Sawmill Manufacturing Canada
JCB Americas, Inc. Construction Equipment Manufacturing England
Jelinek Cork Group Promotion, production and distribution of cork products Manufacturing Canada
Johnson Matthey Process Technologies Inc. Catalyst production Manufacturing England
Kerry Nutritious Food Manufacturer Specialty Food & Beverage Manufacturing Ireland
Limbs & Things Medical task trainers and simulators Creative and Technical Services United Kingdom
Mitsubishi Power Gas and steam turbine Manufacturing Japan
Mitsui-Soko Electronics warehousing Logistics & Distribution Japan
NEC Space System Solutions Aerospace Japan
Nippon Express USA, Inc. Freight forwarding Logistics & Distribution Japan
Noritake Co., Inc. Warehousing and storage Logistics & Distribution Japan
OA Logistics Home bedding and pet beds Logistics & Distribution China
Raceix Marine Technology Marine Ireland
Rolls-Royce North America Inc. Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts Aerospace United Kingdom
Safavieh Home furnishings Distributor Logistics & Distribution India
TOSAF Manufacturer of additives, compounds and color masterbatches for the plastics industry Manufacturing Israel
Vopak Public warehousing Logistics & Distribution Netherlands
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics Transportation and logistics Logistics & Distribution Norway

*Not an all-inclusive list

Savannah Stories

MSB Aerospace

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Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems

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