Overseas - "It is foreign investment - the deepest form of global integra¬tion - that binds the transatlantic economy together, not trade," reported The Transatlantic Economy 2010 study published by the John Hopkins University.

According to this report, foreign investment generates greater wealth on both sides of the Atlantic, creates more jobs, and produces higher incomes. No two regions of the global economy are as economically fused as the two parties straddling the ocean, making the transatlantic economy the largest and wealthiest in the world.

Corporate Europe accounted for 71 % of total foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S. in 2008 ($2.3 trillion). No other region worldwide has invested as much in the U.S. nor created as many American jobs as Corporate Europe. British, French, and German foreign investors remain the largest and most prominent investors in the U.S.

Ohio - Direct Investment from Europe

Ohio is one of the leading U.S. states to benefit from this European investment. Of the $43 billion in foreign direct investments (2007), 40 % came from Europe - that amounts to $17 billion, of which the United Kingdom, Germany and France contribute more than $15 billion.

The economic center of Ohio is the metro region Cincinnati USA. For example, the number of German businesses there increased by 18 % in the last few years - to 82 subsidiaries today.

Overall nearly 400 foreign companies have settled in Cincinnati USA, most of them from Europe - such as Air Liquide, L'Oreal and Mane from France, GlaxoSmithKline and Ineos from Great Britain and BASF, Lanxess or Krauss-Maffei from Germany. About 1,000 companies do international business and generate export revenues of $17.5 billion (2008). More than 370 of the Fortune 500 companies are represented in the region; 10 of them, like Procter & Gamble and Macy's, have their headquarters there.

Kutterer Mauer Expands Capacity

The metropolis Cincinnati is located along the Ohio River where the states of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana meet and is the gateway to the industrial Midwest. About 40 % of all U.S. industrial production sites can be reached by truck within one day.

"At this location we are equally close to clients and suppliers," Susanne Kutterer-Schacht said. Together with Klaus Mauer, she shares the management board of Kutterer-Mauer.

The company from Karlsruhe and Heidelberg, Germany, has been represented in Cincinnati since 2007 and manufactures injection-molded plastic components for the packaging industry, e.g. for cosmetic products. Local clients include Procter & Gamble, L'Oreal and GSK, known for its Sensodyne tooth paste brand.

"One reason for our move to the USA was to expand our international presence to two continents," Kutterer-Schacht said.

In fall 2010, Kutterer Mauer increased its capacity and invested in six new injection molding machines - four 160-ton and two 200-ton machines. With this, the roughly 10-fold higher demand since last year can be met. "Our workforce in the USA has grown to 25," Kutterer-Schacht said.

Manufacturing Growth in Cincinnati

The manufacturing industry, with its jobs is growing more strongly at present in the Cincinnati USA region than the U.S. average. In the first half of 2010, the 3.2 % increase in the number of jobs in production was three times that of the U.S. as a whole. In November 2010, there were 111,000 people employed in this sector - 5 % more than in the same period in 2009. The U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee reports that nearly 20,000 jobs were created in the manufacturing industry in Ohio during the last year.

"In addition to the chemical and automotive supply industries, the consumer products sector and its manufacturing and logistics chain is one of the economic driving forces for the region," said Neil Hensley, Senior Director for Economic Development of the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce. "Many European companies are integrated here, like fragrance maker Givaudan from Switzerland or Solvay from Belgium, which fabricates cosmetic precursors."

Award as ‘Consumer Marketing Innovation Hub'

In 2010, the Cincinnati metro region was awarded the title "Consumer Marketing Innovation Hub" by the U.S. State of Ohio and the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), an honor that requires future perspective as an essential component, with new approaches to consumer marketing and new milestones.

In the last eight years, the number of employees in advertising and design businesses grew by 35 % - to 11,700 employees today. "The developments in these branches are usually preceded by developments in the secondary sector," Hensley said.

Benchmark For Chemistry: Location Quotient

In the last few years Cincinnati USA's competitive position as a chemical, pharmaceutical and life sciences industry location was enhanced. A study conducted by the University of Cincinnati indicated that Cincinnati USA achieved a location quotient of 1.41 for the chemical industry. This means that the region is home to a 41 % higher number of chemical companies than would be expected for a region of 2 million people, given the U.S. average. And it is a clear indication that the chemical industry enjoys local production benefits and is active in the major export-oriented league.

Chambers of Commerce Facilitate Market Access

"The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber has access to special programs to facilitate the establishment of companies - ranging from business, market and strategy consultation, to incubators for start-ups, to network activities that are essential for foreign companies," Hensley said.