Think Global. Think Dallas!
Whether you are from China, Korea, Thailand or Brazil, Dallas welcomes you to do business in our city. As the ninth largest city in the United States, Dallas is a major player in the domestic and international marketplace. The Dallas Metroplex is home to over 2,250 global companies, including 24 Fortune 500 headquarters and 7 Global 500 headquarters. The 425 foreign-owned businesses and multinational corporations in the region are responsible for over 250,000 jobs. The region’s foreign trade has more than tripled in the last decade, and total import and export trade in 2006 between the Dallas area and the world topped $58.2B, up from $49.6B in 2005. This growth was driven largely by increased trade with China. The data shows how important free trade is to our regional market and local economy. China is Dallas’ top trading partner accounting for 29.1% of the Dallas area’s foreign trade, or $16.9B, compared with 27% or $13.4B in 2005. Growth in Dallas area's exports to China included gains in the electronics, medical instruments and plastics sectors. After China, the area’s biggest trading partners are Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan while Texas’ leading trading partner is Mexico.
In addition, the Dallas area is home to the third busiest passenger airport in the world for daily operations. With an average over 945 daily departures, DFW Airport provides nonstop service to 136 domestic and 39 international destinations worldwide. In 2006, DFW Airport served 60.2 million passengers and has the fastest growing U.S. market for cargo trade. It was named the world's best cargo airport by Air Cargo World magazine in 2006. In 2007, DFW was awarded “Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Large Airports” in North America by J.D Power and Associates.
Dallas is truly an international city and has something to offer everyone. According to Census figures, 26.3% of Dallas citizens were born in a foreign country. Over 70 different languages are spoken in the homes of students enrolled in the Dallas Independent School District. Dallas boasts a diverse religious community. In Dallas you can choose among several Korean churches, Buddhist centers, mosques, and numerous Catholic and Protestant churches. Dallas area international media keeps foreign citizens informed via Latino, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese radio stations, newspapers and magazines. There are also several international schools as well as many foreign banks.