Gov. Beshear Attending World Economic Forum To Encourage Future Investment, Job Opportunities in Kentucky
Team Kentucky delegation also set to meet with company leaders in Finland and Sweden
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 16, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that he and a delegation from Team Kentucky will travel to Europe next week for a visit to Finland and Sweden and to attend the World Economic Forum in Switzerland to support future investment, job-creation and economic development opportunities in the commonwealth.
The trip follows the announcement that Kentucky recorded the second-best year on record for new investments within the private sector last year, with $10.5 billion in projects secured. The strong year of new investment resulted from 185 new-location and expansion announcements that are projected to create nearly 9,600 full-time jobs. Last year also saw rising wages across the state, as the average incentivized hourly wage was $29.58 in 2025, the highest on record, and topped $26 in four consecutive years for the first time.
“The commonwealth’s economy is as strong as it has ever been, and that momentum is carrying over into 2026 as we continue to work toward our goal of building a brighter future for all Kentuckians,” said Gov. Beshear. “The World Economic Forum presents a unique opportunity to meet with business leaders from around the world at one location – an opportunity that otherwise would not be possible. I am excited to show the world that our New Kentucky Home is the best place to invest, do business, live and work as we build on our record-breaking success.”
The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 will center on the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” with primary topics focusing on collaboration, economic resilience and competitiveness, ethics and workforce disruption, sustainability, and deployment of transformative technologies. The annual invitation-only event, established in 1973, has grown to become a major international networking opportunity and one of the world’s largest assemblies of global decision-makers, with thousands of government, business and civic leaders representing over 125 countries participating.
Team Kentucky’s participation provides an opportunity to build on Kentucky’s extensive international presence, which currently includes 524 foreign-owned facilities that employ over 110,000 Kentuckians. The commonwealth ranks third nationally for Foreign Direct Investment employment as a percentage of total employment.
The Governor and his team are currently scheduled to meet with about 260 business leaders, as well as 16 companies with existing Kentucky facilities that employ over 13,600 workers as well as eight prospective companies with projects that include nearly 650 proposed jobs.
Gov. Beshear will also visit with leadership from various overseas companies during the trip, including DHL Group, a global leader in mail, delivery and logistics. In 2024, its company DHL Express announced the groundbreaking of a new state-of-the-art aviation maintenance facility at CVG Airport in Northern Kentucky, a $292 million investment creating 300 new, full-time jobs.
The Governor’s visit to Europe will build on the best six-year period for economic growth in state history.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,300 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $45 billion in announced investments, creating more than 68,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $24 billion more than the next highest total.
Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the battery capital of the United States: AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Ford Motor Co.’s $2 billion, 2,200-job commitment in Louisville, as well as its $2 billion, 2,100-job project at the Kentucky 1 plant in Hardin County; Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County; and Toyota’s $1.3 billion investment in Scott County, among others.
The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund. In 2023, Kentucky recorded over 2 million jobs filled for the first time ever and has stayed above that number ever since.
Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.
Last year, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky in the top five nationally and second in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2024 Governor’s Cup rankings. Site Selection also placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and No. 6 nationally in its 2025 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.
Gov. Beshear also announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at NewKentuckyHome.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.
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