Hop in a car and drive north for half a day, and, soon enough, you'll find yourself crossing the border into one of South Carolina's largest economic partners. Canada, an enormous political and financial ally of the United States, is also a significant investor in South Carolina. Employing more than 8,000 South Carolinians, Canadian companies have announced capital investments of approximately $680 million since 2011.
To make sure this partnership continues to thrive, a delegation of Team South Carolina participated on a trade and investment mission to Canada this week. Visiting both Montreal and Toronto, this trip allowed our team to build on existing business relationships and create new ones, demonstrating to our Canadian counterparts that South Carolina is 'Just right' for business. More than just an avenue to support the state's industry recruitment efforts, however, the trip also helped us promote the export potential of South Carolina companies. After all, Canada remains one of the Palmetto State's top export partners, accounting for more than $3.6 billion of South Carolina's export sales total in 2015.
Moving forward, it's clear that our friends across the border will continue to play an integral role in our state's economic success, and this mutually beneficial partnership will ensure that both Canada and South Carolina remain prosperous for many years to come.
