Take a look around the skyline of Seattle and you can quickly see that Washington’s economy is growing at record levels. In 2015 alone, more than 100 construction projects were underway within the city’s limits, from Amazon’s expansive headquarters to new apartment buildings, mixed-use skyscrapers, restaurants and entertainment complexes to support a young, tech-centric population.

New projects can be found around the state, from the largest frozen food storage facility on the west coast to a new flight operations facility for Mitsubishi’s MRJ commercial aircraft. Known for its culture of creativity, mild climate, diverse geography and entrepreneurial mindset, Washington State has established itself as a world-class centre for commerce, trade and investment.

A DIVERSE INDUSTRY LANDSCAPE

New businesses are drawn to Washington by its highly skilled workforce, lack of personal and corporate income taxes and innovative pioneer spirit, which has given birth to such international business legends as Amazon, Boeing, Costco, Expedia, Microsoft, Nordstrom and Starbucks. With a focus on aerospace; advanced materials; information and communication technology (ICT); life sciences/global health; maritime trades and clean technologies, the state is home to 800 multinational firms employing nearly 100,000 workers. This includes such well-known firms as Alibaba, BP, Dassault Systemes, Jubilant, Philips Healthcare, REC Silicon, T-Mobile, WaferTech and Zodiac.

AN INTERNATIONAL GATEWAY

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) is connected to the world with direct flights to major European and Asian business centres as well as the Middle East. In 2015, international travel was up 15.2%, making Sea-Tac one of the fastest growing airports in the United States. ANA, Asiana Airways, British Airways, Condor, Delta, Eva Air, Hainan Airlines, Iceland Air, Korean Air and Lufthansa all offer direct or connecting flights from Seattle to major gateways around the world.

Since Washington State is equidistant between Asia and Europe, it is a natural epicentre for trade. Washington is the third largest exporting state in the United States, shipping more than $90.6 billion in products and an estimated $20 to $40 billion in services. The state is No.1 in aircraft exports as well as the No.1 supplier of raspberries, hops, apples, cherries, pears and concord grapes.

One of the state’s many competitive advantages lies in the fact  that some of Washington’s ports are a day’s sail closer to Asia markets than other ports on the west coast. The Northwest Seaport Alliance, which combines Seattle’s and Tacoma’s deep-water ports, is the third largest port in the United States.

ENTREPRENEURIAL CULTURE

Washington is known the world over for its amazing entrepreneurial spirit. A culture of collaboration and innovation brings new ideas rapidly to market. It is not uncommon for start-ups to open right across the street from their founders’ former employer. Ideas are easily shared over coffee or a craft beer in the surrounding cafes and pubs. This ecosystem of creativity is supported by more than a hundred co-working spaces, makerspaces, incubators and accelerators, as well as world-renowned research and development organisations and labs.

This spirit of collaboration and cooperation crosses industry lines as well. For instance, the state’s aerospace and ICT sectors have benefitted greatly from a cross-pollination of ideas and advances that have changed the way we travel. This is particularly true in the areas of highly advanced avionics and onboard navigation systems, which draw much of their inspiration from the pioneering work of Washington’s nearly 14,000 technology companies.

A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS

Washington is a study in contrasts to be sure. Featuring a highly educated, highly productive workforce, a smart, multi-faceted sector-driven strategy and a critical mass of world-class companies, Washington has emerged from the Great Recession in a high growth mode, benefitting from an ecosystem that is as resilient as it is collaborative, a testament to the pioneer spirit that continues to drive the state’s robust economy.