Delegation builds on the city’s international momentum to grow investment and innovation
Plano city officials, including Mayor John Muns, City Manager Mark Israelson and Economic Development Director Doug McDonald, recently traveled to Sweden to deepen international business connections and attract future investment to North Texas.
The meetings, held Oct. 20–22, focused on expanding relationships with companies in telecommunications, defense, life sciences and financial services — including Plano partners Ericsson and ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions.
Expanding Plano’s Global Footprint
With established international ties across Asia and North America, Plano continues to broaden its reach by building new bridges to Europe. The city’s efforts are designed to connect North Texas’ growing business community with Sweden’s world-renowned innovation, design and technology sectors.
“In Plano, we are fortunate to have a strong roster of global companies that have chosen our city as the home for their North American operations,” McDonald told Local Profile. “As part of our ongoing business retention and expansion efforts, we make it a priority to visit with these companies regularly to strengthen our partnerships and ensure they have the workforce connections and resources necessary to thrive in our community.”
Building Long-Term Relationships
Because many international companies rely heavily on in-person engagement, Plano occasionally sends small delegations abroad to meet directly with corporate leaders. These visits focus both on companies already operating in Plano and those exploring opportunities to establish or expand within the city.
Photo: City of Plano
“Building these international relationships takes time, but they are essential for developing a strong pipeline of global investment and collaboration,” said McDonald.
This year’s trip included meetings with Ericsson and ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions, both of which maintain their North American headquarters in Plano. Ericsson, one of the city’s largest employers, has been part of the Plano business landscape since 2001. ASSA ABLOY Global Solutions relocated its headquarters to Plano in 2024.
In addition to corporate meetings, the delegation met with several Swedish-American chambers of commerce and industry organizations to better understand Sweden’s business ecosystem and identify potential opportunities for future partnerships.
“Our goal with these international business development trips is to strengthen relationships with our corporate partners and better understand their company culture, growth strategies, and leadership priorities,” McDonald said. “By doing so, we can more effectively position Plano as a long-term partner in their success and support their continued growth in our community.”
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