Newly investing companies include Infocrossing (a subsidiary of India-based Wipro), Facebook and American Express, creating nearly 200 jobs.

Infrocrossing, a provider of IT infrastructure management solutions, is opening a data centre in western North Carolina costing $75m. The social networking site Facebook is establishing a $450m data service in Rutherford County due to be completed in May 2012. In exchange for its investment in the county Facebook will receive a package of economic development incentives valued at $10m over five years.

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Also investing in the state is American Express, which is setting up a $400m data center.

In addition to attracting these projects, North Carolina became a finalist in Microsoft’s site selection process, eventually losing out to Virginia. Analysts said that North Carolina's success in attracting FDI could be the result of tax incentives the state offers.

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