New Castle County is Delaware's economic engine — home to world-class companies in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, chemicals, financial services, logistics, and agriculture. This is what we represent to the world.
International partnerships work best when both sides have something the other needs. NCIC's role is to identify those intersections — matching Delaware's export strengths with the import demands of partner cities, and vice versa.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metropolitan area exported $29.1 billion in goods in 2024. Delaware alone exported $5.5 billion in 2025. This region produces things the world wants — and it wants things the world produces.
New Castle County is home to one of the most significant life sciences clusters in the United States. AstraZeneca — Delaware's largest industrial employer — anchors a pharmaceutical ecosystem that includes DuPont, ILC Dover, and Agilent Technologies.
The sector spans pharmaceuticals, biotech research, advanced materials, medical devices, and diagnostics. Delaware's proximity to major research universities, the NIH corridor in Maryland, and major hospital systems in Philadelphia creates an unparalleled innovation environment.
Global pharmaceutical leader. Delaware's largest industrial employer. Major R&D presence in Wilmington.
Founded in Delaware in 1802. Global leader in specialty chemicals, advanced materials, and electronic components.
Advanced flexible materials for aerospace, pharmaceutical, and defense. Producer of NASA spacesuits.
Leader in life sciences diagnostics and applied chemicals. Significant Delaware manufacturing presence.
New Castle County is Delaware's largest manufacturing county, home to 21,740 manufacturing workers across nearly 600 industrial companies. The sector ranges from aerospace components to structural metals, electrical equipment, and paper products.
Transportation equipment is Delaware's second-largest manufacturing export at nearly $900 million — including aircraft parts, aerospace components, and automotive materials. The modernized Coastal Zone Act is opening previously underutilized industrial sites for new manufacturing development.
Wilmington is widely recognized as the chemical capital of the world. DuPont, Hercules, and AstraZeneca established Wilmington as a global center for chemical research, development, and administration — a legacy that continues to shape the regional economy.
Delaware's chemical exports totaled $1.6 billion in 2025 — the state's single largest export category. Products include pigments, nylon, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, synthetic rubber, and specialty materials.
Delaware's 1899 corporation law created what is still the most business-friendly legal environment in the United States. More than 60% of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in Delaware. Over 1 million business entities call Delaware home — including thousands of American and international corporations.
For international investors, Delaware's legal infrastructure offers unparalleled protection, flexibility, and access to the American financial system. The Court of Chancery — a specialized business court with no jury trials — provides fast, expert resolution of commercial disputes.
The Port of Wilmington sits on the Delaware River, 65 miles from the Atlantic — strategically positioned to serve the entire Northeast corridor. Currently operated by Enstructure and undergoing significant expansion, the port is positioned to become a major gateway for international trade.
The port connects to I-95, I-295, the Northeast Corridor rail line, and CSX freight rail — providing direct access to 50 million consumers within a 4-hour drive. The International Longshoremen's Association local, a major force in Wilmington's economy, provides a skilled and reliable workforce.
Food processing is Delaware's largest industrial sector by employment — accounting for 29% of the state's industrial workforce. Delaware exported $364 million in agricultural products in 2024, with strengths in poultry, soybeans, corn, and dairy.
This sector presents one of the most direct partnership opportunities with Qiqihar — China's designated Capital of Organic Food, with 1,200+ food manufacturing companies. The complementary strengths of Delaware food processing infrastructure and Qiqihar's organic food production create natural trade and investment synergies.
If your city, company, or institution sees a potential match with what New Castle County produces and needs — let's talk.