IBM Global Location Trends 2009
10-13-2009
• The economic recession clearly affected global investment activity: a decline of 25% in jobs created through foreign investment.
• Various "hot-spots" among the emerging markets were severely affected, as companies postponed or cancelled larger, risk bearing projects.
• Stable, mature markets performed relatively better than the emerging markets, still attracting the smaller, consumer-oriented projects, and being a safe choice for many consolidation projects (although the majority of these also showed overall decreases).
• The widening of global investment continued. Despite the overall decrease in total investment, companies extended their search for markets, talents, and cost efficiency to new corners of the world. In particular, Africa continues to increase its share of global investment.
• Preliminary indications for 2009 show that the above trends continue up until recently. Q3 and Q4 however clearly show signals of increasing activity. This is unlikely to lead shortly to similar numbers of new jobs as in recent record years, but shows that companies are beginning to change their focus to growth strategies again.
Recent Project Announcements

Nucor Expands Decatur, Alabama, Manufacturing Operations
10/24/2026
US Conec Plans Hickory, North Carolina, Manufacturing Operations
10/24/2026
Westinghouse Electric Company Expands Richland County, South Carolina, Advanced Nuclear Fuel Operations
10/24/2026
Blue Bird Corporation Expands Peach County, Georgia, Manufacturing Operations
10/24/2026
Silco Fire & Security Plans Bullitt County, Kentucky, Operations
10/24/2026
Conair Expands Franklin, Pennsylvania, Production Operations
10/23/2026
Phoenix Tailings Plans Rochester, New York, Rare Earth Mineral Separation Operations
10/22/2026
Barge Forest Products Expands Macon, Mississippi, Sawmill Operations
10/22/2026
ITT Goulds Pumps Plans Memphis, Tennessee, Manufacturing-Distribution Operations
10/22/2026
Discovery 2 Scale Plans Nambé Pueblo, New Mexico, Headquarters Operations
10/22/2026
Premium Auto Body Expands Jackson, Missouri, Operations
10/21/2026
Hitachi Energy Plans London, Ontario, Canada, Manufacturing Operations
10/21/2026
River View Farms Expands Orleans, Indiana, Operations
10/21/2026
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Expands Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Operations
10/21/2026
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