By Jeff Wasden, President & CEO of State Business Executives
September 8, 2025
In today’s global economy, one thing is clear: foreign investment and foreign assistance aren’t just tools of diplomacy or charity — they’re smart business. At State Business Executives, we represent industries and sectors that are the backbone of the U.S. economy. From advanced manufacturing to agriculture, financial services to healthcare, our members know that long-term growth depends not only on what happens here at home, but also on how the U.S. engages with the world.
That’s why we care deeply about strong, strategic American leadership in foreign assistance and investment. Because when the U.S. helps develop global markets, businesses in every state, every sector, and every industry benefit.
It’s a misconception that foreign assistance is just a handout. In reality, it builds the infrastructure –physical, economic, and social – that future trade and investment rely on to prosper. When countries invest in roads, ports, education, healthcare, and digital access through U.S. assistance, they aren’t just improving their own citizens’ lives. They’re preparing to become our buyers, producers, and partners.
That matters for American businesses. 13 of our top 15 trading partners were once recipients of U.S. foreign assistance. As these markets grow, so does demand for U.S.-made goods, technologies, and services. Think of the transformation of South Korea as just one example of many. They evolved from a major U.S. assistance recipient to one of our top trading partners over a few decades. That story isn’t unique – it’s replicable with the right mix of assistance and investment.
When you look at specific areas like investments by the U.S. Development Finance Corporation, which connects American capital and expertise with global opportunity, you can clearly see the direct business benefit. These investments create jobs, strengthen governance, and lower the risk of conflicts and crises that disrupt supply chains or trigger migration pressures. Markets that benefit from these investments are more likely to be marked by stability and consistency — both essential ingredients for business success.
In short, it helps make markets safer and more predictable. For the industries we represent – manufacturing, homebuilders, healthcare, finance, tech, and more – this matters. These sectors thrive in stable, growing markets. They suffer when supply chains break, governments fail, or consumer markets collapse. Assistance and investment are how we help prevent that and create the conditions for business growth.
Our executives and leadership at State Business Executives value investing in and sourcing from emerging markets because they see the business case: expanding consumer bases, diversifying supply chains, and building long-term global partnerships.
Our leading state executives are based in states across the country, with companies and industries that compete in a global marketplace. Their success increasingly depends on the prosperity of markets abroad. Foreign assistance and investment aren’t side issues to these businesses – they’re central to their economic competitiveness.
Supporting these businesses means building the next generation of middle-class consumers in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. It means opening up markets to U.S. exports, reducing the cost of doing business overseas, and preventing global disruptions that ripple back home.
The ‘Bottom Line’ at State Business Executives is that we believe foreign assistance and investment are vital components of a smart, forward-looking U.S. economic strategy. These tools don’t just reflect our values – they advance our interests. American businesses, workers, and communities all stand to gain when we invest in a more prosperous, stable, and connected world.
Let’s stop thinking of assistance and investment as soft power or charity – they are economic power. That’s good for business.
###
About State Business Executives State Business Executives through advocacy, education, and collaboration works to proactively support and develop non-partisan solutions that promote success for American businesses, workers, and communities. We convene state business leaders to foster, cultivate, and sustain an optimal business climate, drive business prosperity, and advance a strong national economy. To learn more visit statebusinessexecutives.org.
