NRW.Global Business AWARD 2026 Honors International Investments Fueling Regional Growth

On September 7, 2026, the NRW.Global Business AWARD 2026 was presented by Economic and Climate Protection Minister Mona Neubaur and NRW.Global Business Managing Director Felix Neugart to four companies demonstrating significant international investment and successful market expansion in North Rhine-Westphalia.

The honored firms include Japan's TRICOR Packaging & Logistics, India’s software leader ZOHO, American automotive supplier Aptiv, and agathon, a North Rhine-Westphalian enterprise renowned for innovative plastic molds in the food industry. TRICOR is investing €170 million in a cutting-edge cardboard plant in Goch/Weeze, projected to create 200 jobs. Agathon is contributing €20 million toward a new automated production facility. Aptiv maintains a strong R&D footprint in Wuppertal, focusing on future mobility technologies, while ZOHO is expanding its European presence with a new headquarters in Essen, emphasizing digital transformation.

Minister Neubaur highlighted the awardees’ diverse backgrounds and commitment to innovation, underscoring that breakthroughs emerge from bold, boundary-crossing business endeavors. Felix Neugart pointed to their long-term investments as emblematic of North Rhine-Westphalia’s openness to global business partnerships and competitiveness.

This year's recognized projects embody sustainable growth and the dynamic integration of global companies into the regional economy, enhancing job creation and technological advancement in NRW.