Energy + Industrial FDI

  • URENCO USA in Lea County is a $4+ billion uranium enrichment facility owned by a UK–Netherlands–Germany consortium, employing 300+ workers and supplying the global nuclear fuel market.

  • The Permian Basin draws investment and partnerships involving foreign firms, including Ecopetrol (Colombia) and oilfield service leaders such as Schlumberger (France).

International capital views this region as energy-critical, and future FDI can scale if workforce and infrastructure remain competitive.

Aerospace + Defense FDI and Partnerships

  • Holloman AFB hosted the German Air Force for 27 years, representing long-standing foreign military spending in the region.
  • Sceye (Roswell) is backed by European investment to develop high-altitude telecommunications platforms.

  • Roswell International Air Center services aircraft and parts for Asia and Europe, positioning it for global aerospace logistics growth.

International engagement already exists in aerospace and defense and can expand with marketing, site development, and international flight or port-of-entry capabilities.

Mining + Manufacturing FDI

  • Canadian firms have historically invested in potash operations near Carlsbad, linking the region to global fertilizer markets.

  • Foreign-owned engineering and industrial suppliers, including ABB (Switzerland) and Canon ITS (Japan) operate in New Mexico and feed into regional industry and oilfield demand.

Manufacturing FDI is small but present. With Foreign Trade Zone expansion in Roswell or Hobbs, this segment could grow.

Tourism + Real Estate FDI

  • Canadian and European buyers are active in Ruidoso vacation home markets and international tourists spend heavily in White Sands and Carlsbad Caverns.

  • International hospitality partnerships have been explored at Inn of the Mountain Gods and other resort sites.

Tourism is already an export of experience. Marketing to overseas travelers and packaging multi-park itineraries could expand foreign spending.

FDI or Linkage by Country

Country / Region Type of FDI or Linkage Stat / Detail
UK, Netherlands, Germany Nuclear Fuel $4+ billionownership of URENCO USA (Eunice) •300+ jobs
Colombia Energy Partnership Ecopetrol investment participation in Permian Basin
France Oilfield Services Schlumberger operations tied to Permian development
European Investors Aerospace Technology Funding for Sceye stratospheric platform in Roswell
Germany Defense Training 27 yearsof German Air Force operations at Holloman AFB
Canada Mining + Real Estate Historical investment in potash mines and Ruidoso properties

Global Strategic Connectivity

Southeastern New Mexico is connected to global markets in ways that exceed what its geography suggests. Aviation assets, defense infrastructure, trade corridors, and digital networks link the region to international movement of goods, people, capital, and knowledge. These connections provide competitive advantages for industry growth, foreign investment, and global trade positioning.

Roswell International Air Center (RIAC)

  • RIAC has one of the longest runways in North America and extensive apron capacity that supports large-scale aircraft storage and maintenance. Hundreds of commercial aircraft from Asia, Europe, and Latin America have been stored and serviced here, including entire fleets during the pandemic.

  • MRO operators at RIAC provide services to foreign carriers and aircraft parts from Roswell enter secondary markets around the world.

  • There is potential for continued growth into an international aerospace logistics hub, supported by pilot training already occurring on site. A future Port of Entry designation could allow international arrivals to clear customs in Roswell and increase global traffic.

Aerial view of an airport and surrounding facilities.
Regional LensAir Access and InvestmentAn aviation asset can connect specialized regional operations with customers and partners beyond the five counties.

Proximity to the U.S. Mexico Border

  • Southern Otero County sits about 90 miles from Santa Teresa and El Paso, placing the region inside the trade orbit of the Paso del Norte binational corridor. Manufacturers and distributors can reach an international border crossing in under two hours, which is a competitive advantage for export-oriented firms.

  • Northern Mexico’s maquila industry purchases U.S. inputs and warehousing services and southeastern New Mexico can serve that demand at a lower cost than El Paso. Highway upgrades, especially on US-54, would strengthen this position and allow logistics-dependent businesses to anchor in Otero or Lincoln with efficient access to Mexico.

Global Defense and Aerospace Connections

  • White Sands Missile Range regularly tests systems tied to international military sales and may host foreign engineers or allied programs when those technologies are evaluated.

  • Holloman AFB could again serve as a training location for partner pilots, which previously brought foreign personnel and spending into the region for nearly three decades. These installations place southeastern New Mexico inside global security and aerospace development networks.

  • The New Mexico Museum of Space History, while symbolic in scale, reinforces this identity and draws international visitors.