Nearshoring and Logistics Upgrades Position the Caribbean as a New Regional Hub
The Caribbean is repositioning as a regional supply‑chain hub as nearshoring gains traction and governments fund logistics upgrades. High logistics costs—16 to 25 percent of GDP—have spurred port expansions in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guyana and Belize, backed by investors such as DP World and Pérez y Cía. The Dominican Republic’s free‑trade zones and a $760 mn port expansion have attracted medical‑device multinationals and boosted export volumes. Complementary air‑hub development, led by Arajet and FL Technics, adds further resilience to the region’s trade ecosystem.
Regional Integration Is Buoying the Caribbean Economy
New sectors are emerging in a region navigating global policy and climate shocks
IIAs 2026 | Sensirion’s Expansion in Debrecen, Hungary
Swiss sensor specialist Sensirion expanded its Debrecen, Hungary facility, earning the top award for Europe’s most impactful small operational project. The plant, originally opened in 2021, added capacity through a 2023‑24 expansion and is projected to create 200 jobs by...
IIAs 2026 | Expansion of Natixis’s Centre of Excellence in Porto, Portugal
Natixis’s Centre of Expertise in Porto has surged to more than 2,500 employees, quadrupling its original target. The hub earned second place in fDi Intelligence’s Investment Impact Awards for operational mid‑sized projects, praised for sustainability and inclusive hiring. The expansion...
IIAs 2026 | SK’s Expansion in Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland
South Korean conglomerate SK Group’s battery separator plant in Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland, was named the second‑most impactful operational mega project in Europe for 2026. The €4.4 bn investment has created more than 1,200 jobs and strengthens Europe’s battery supply chain amid rising...
IIAs 2026 | CATL’s Gigafactory in Debrecen, Hungary
Chinese battery giant CATL is investing €7.34 bn to build a gigafactory in Debrecen, Hungary, the country’s largest greenfield project. The company has already assembled over 120,000 battery modules in a rented facility and aims to start lithium‑ion cell production in...
IIAs 2026 | Harro Höfliger’s Expansion in Debrecen, Hungary
Harro Höfliger, a German machinery maker, is expanding its Debrecen plant with a €15 million investment, creating 100 jobs. The project follows the 2024 acquisition of Manz’s Hungarian operations and was ranked the second most impactful small‑scale FDI in the 2026 Investment...
IIAs 2026 | Copeland’s Site Expansion in Cookstown, Northern Ireland
US‑based climate‑tech firm Copeland announced a £19 million expansion of its Cookstown, Northern Ireland factory, adding a new production line for heat‑pump compressors. The investment, the most impactful small‑sized project in Europe according to the 2026 Investment Impact Awards, is projected...
IIAs 2026 | Smart Solar Technologies’ Solar Module Factory in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Smart Solar Technologies, a Turkish cleantech firm, announced a €122 million investment to build a solar cell and module factory in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. The plant will target 1,500 MW of wafer, cell and module output and is expected to generate more than...