'Houston is also the most diverse city in the U.S. We are the energy capital of the world, alongside the largest medical center, the Port of Houston, two world-class airports, and a growing innovation ecosystem,' said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. 'Houston is a remarkable city, and we are proud to be recognized as one of the world's best cities for foreign direct investment. When it comes to economic growth potential, which looks at metrics such as GDP growth, credit rating, economic freedom, and labor productivity, Houston ranks 7th. The report references the City's recorded 53 expansion or co-location projects between May 2015 and April 2020, representing more than a quarter of its total inward FDI and the second highest out of all locations analyzed. Houston also placed sixth in the Business Friendliness category due to its welcoming business environment. This also contributed to Houston achieving third place in the Human Capital and Lifestyle category, which weighs local educational institutions' strength, life expectancy, access to healthcare, and the Social Progress Index. The report attributes the ranking to Houston's position as a reputable talent hub, including being home to five global top 500 universities and over 30 international baccalaureate schools. The report is published by the fDi Intelligence division of the global news outlet Financial Times. Houston is third in the overall ranking of the new fDi Tier 2 Cities of the Future 2020/21, which takes a closer look at the non-capital cities with a population under eight million. According to a new report released this week, Houston ranks among the world's top cities of the future for global business investment, human capital and lifestyle.

How are global cities ranked