4万亿美元。这是2017年外国工商业来美投资的数额，据美国商务部（U.S. Commerce Department）说，外来投资规模已创有史以来的最新记录。没有任何其他国家可以望其项背。

美国是全世界最大的消费者市场。美国经济蓬勃增长使海外企业有更多的理由前来投资，出售更多的产品。

为什么美国对其他国家的公司和投资者具有如此大的吸引力？

在最近举行的选择美国投资峰会（SelectUSA Investment Summit）期间，美国国务卿迈克·蓬佩奥（Mike Pompeo）对美国具有的吸引力进行了阐述。选择美国投资峰会的宗旨是帮助企业家与希望引进新企业的美国各州和地方发展联系。

蓬佩奥本人以前就是一名企业家。他说，“我们有卓越的创业和创新文化。我们有全世界最大的产品和服务市场。我们有极为稳定的政治和无可匹敌的法治。”

美国商务部表示，外来投资最多的部门是制造业（40%）。外国公司雇用了680万美国工人。

在世界银行（World Bank） 公布的最便于从事商业的国家排名中，美国位居第6。

Robust U.S. economy beckons foreign firms

Four trillion dollars. That’s how much foreign businesses invested in the United States in 2017. That’s a record, the U.S. Commerce Department says. No country attracts more.

The strong U.S. economy is giving them even more reason to come and sell more products in what is by far the world’s largest consumer market.

What is it that makes the United States so attractive for other nations’ companies and investors?

At the recent SelectUSA Investment Summit, which helps entrepreneurs connect with states and localities that are eager to welcome new business, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo summarized the attractions.

“We have an incredible culture of entrepreneurship and innovation. We have the world’s largest market for goods and services. We have enormous political stability and a rule of law that is unrivaled,” said Pompeo, a former entrepreneur himself.

The Commerce Department says the largest concentration of foreign investments is in manufacturing (40 percent). Foreign companies employ 6.8 million workers.

The World Bank ranks the United States as the sixth easiest country in which to do business.