From Tourism to Trade Routes: Orlando is a Fast-Rising Global Trade Hub and the U.K. is its Key Catalyst

Those of us who call Central Florida home have known for decades that Orlando is an international city by many measures. Nearly one in four residents in the region is foreign-born, and international migration has driven close to two-thirds of population growth since 2020. International tourism has been part of the economic lifeblood of the region since the opening of Walt Disney World nearly 55 years ago.

But there’s an important shift occurring in the fundamental makeup of the region, which also happens to be one of the fastest growing economies in the U.S. and in the geographic heart of a state where the GDP is equivalent to that of Spain, Mexico and South Korea.

Orlando isn’t just a global tourism destination, but a new crossroads for global trade. And a significant portion of that global presence is being driven by the U.K.

The new analysis from the Orlando Economic Partnership, Why Orlando’s Future is International, states at least 340 foreign-owned firms from more than 30 countries now have a presence in Orlando. Over the decade between 2015 and 2025, 29% — the largest share of any single country — of the foreign direct investment projects were from U.K.-based firms. The U.K. companies employ more than 13,000 Floridians in the Orlando area.

For members of the British American Business Council of Central Florida, these numbers are not abstract. The long-standing and growing economic relationship between the U.K. and Florida received a boost in 2023 with the signing of a trade MOU to focus our efforts, and since then we’ve witnessed the region becoming one of the most significant bilateral investment corridors in the U.S.

It’s notable that Orlando’s $27.3 billion in international trade has been accomplished without the benefit of a deepwater port, but with a distinct mix of innovation, high-value advanced manufacturing and a business-friendly culture.

This translates into a pipeline of investment in sectors aligned with regional strengths, such as aviation, aerospace, fintech and life sciences. New sectors also are coming into play with their global connections, such as semiconductors in NeoCity in nearby Osceola County, which is driving linkages to South Korea. Another fast-rising sector is agtech innovation, drawing interests from everywhere, since the need for sustainable food systems is truly universal.

In today’s economy, Orlando and the UK. aren’t just connected, they’re coinvested in each other’s future. And the rest of the world isn’t far behind.