Governor Moore Announces New Foreign Direct Investment Partnerships at SelectUSA Summit
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ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller today attended the SelectUSA Investment Summit, where the governor announced three new partnerships to promote foreign direct investment and grow Maryland’s economy. The new partnerships include the creation of a Maryland-Korea Trade Desk, a new international tech collaboration between the Maryland Technology Development Corporation and the Kingdom of Jordan, and the addition of South African life sciences startup Impulse Biomed to the Maryland Global Gateway program.
“The companies represented here today are not playing for second, and neither is Maryland,” said Gov. Moore. “We boast unparalleled assets, from the world-class talent at NASA Goddard and Johns Hopkins University to our premier labs and research hubs. By aligning these incredible resources with a clear economic strategy, we are ensuring that Maryland remains the best place in the world to change the world.”
Held annually in National Harbor, the summit is the top event in the country dedicated to promoting foreign direct investment. Organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the event helped deliver $139 billion in new investment projects across the country last year, supporting more than 32,000 jobs nationwide. Throughout the day, the governor and lieutenant governor met with international delegations, global business leaders, and high-ranking officials from the Republic of Korea, Japan, Ireland, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Australia to promote Maryland as the ideal U.S. state for foreign companies.
“Maryland is where global partnerships turn into opportunity,” said Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller. “My own journey connects India and Maryland and today, that same spirit is shaping our work at SelectUSA. We’re building partnerships that create jobs, grow our economy, and turn ideas into results. If you’re looking to invest, innovate, and grow then Maryland is your address.”
Following a meeting with Korean Embassy officials – building on the governor’s trade and economic development mission in Japan and the Republic of Korea – Governor Moore announced the launch of a Maryland-Korea Trade Desk. The trade desk will provide Maryland with a dedicated representative at the embassy to ensure continuous engagement, explore mutual areas for growth, and promote the state as an ideal location for Korean companies.
The new partnership comes as Maryland sees significant investment from Korean companies, including Samsung Biologics and Nature Cell, which both invested in facilities that will support hundreds of jobs. Additionally, Maryland’s IonQ is anchoring South Korea's $2.3 billion national quantum strategy by delivering its flagship 100-qubit Tempo system to the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information.
Governor Moore also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) and the Kingdom of Jordan’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, which will help connect Jordanian and Maryland startups, while creating new opportunities for co-investment, startup exchange, and international market expansion.
“TEDCO is excited to formalize this collaboration with the Kingdom of Jordan,” said TEDCO Chief Executive Officer Troy LeMaile-Stovall. “Through this agreement, we look forward to supporting the advancement of Jordan’s digital and entrepreneurial ecosystems, which will create connections and opportunities in Maryland.”
Following the full day of bilateral meetings with high-ranking trade officials and business delegations, Governor Moore joined North Carolina Governor Josh Stein, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, and Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen for a plenary panel session on “Attracting Global Investment.” During the discussion — open to more than 5,000 summit attendees — the governor highlighted how Maryland’s assets, paired with the Moore-Miller Administration’s economic growth strategy, make the state an unmatched destination for foreign direct investment.
During the discussion, Governor Moore announced that Impulse Biomed, a life sciences startup from Cape Town, South Africa, has joined the Maryland Global Gateway Soft Landing Program and will take space at The LaunchPort in Baltimore City. Administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce, the program gives international companies the opportunity to test the U.S. market while mitigating risk.
“Impulse Biomed kicks off our new soft landing partnership with The LaunchPort in Baltimore as the accelerator’s first Global Gateway participant,” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Harry Coker, Jr. “By helping international companies test out the Maryland market, we believe we can convert more prospects into members of Maryland’s business community. We look forward to our continued work with South Africa and attracting additional companies to our state’s growing global economy.”
As an innovative multi-medical device development company, Impulse Biomed is focused on producing medical solutions that are affordable and reliable, specifically for individuals with asthma and allergies. The company’s products include an accessible device for asthma inhalers called Easy Squeezy that reduces the activation force required for use, and the ZiBiPen, a patented reloadable autoinjector that can be used for anaphylaxis or for rapid administration of other medications in the field.
“We are truly honored to be part of the program as establishing our U.S. presence through the Maryland Global Gateway program is a pivotal milestone for Impulse Biomedical,” said Impulse Biomed Co-Founder Giancarlo Beukes. “The strategic support from the Maryland Department of Commerce and the specialized expertise at The LaunchPort will be key in smoothing our transition into the U.S. market, ensuring we are well positioned for long-term success and impact.”
“We believe that Maryland is the ideal launchpad for the ZiBiPen in particular,” said Impulse Biomed Co-Founder Gokul Nair. “The ecosystem offers a direct line to regulatory expertise, manufacturing infrastructure, and commercial partners essential for market disruption and, of course, impact.”
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