In November 2023, KC SmartPort and the Greater Kansas City Foreign Trade Zone accompanied civic and business leaders from across the region on an international outreach trip to Frankfurt, Germany, aimed at fostering business connections and future investments for the Kansas City region. 

While in Frankfurt, the KC SmartPort team met with several German firms to discuss future investment opportunities in Kansas City. The KC business delegation also hosted a trade mission event that was attended by more than 40 companies based in Germany. 

The Kansas City Trade Mission event, hosted at the Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner office showcased why KC is a top 10 U.S. market for Foreign Direct Investment and highlighted the strong German business presence in both Kansas and Missouri, including Kocher+Beck, Siemens Energy, Bayer, Bohringer Ingelheim and more.

Top government officials including Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas, Tim Cowden, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council and industry leaders shared Kansas City’s investment benefits for foreign companies.