Votorantim, Brazil

This city in Brazil's interior is no cement-making paradise. With a population of just 127,923, Votorantim is home to the country's largest cement producer, Votorantim Cimentos. The company operates plants across Brazil, Argentina, and North America, but its headquarters are here in this provincial town. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the local cement giant has expanded its global footprint through acquisitions and asset purchases over the years. If you don't work in construction materials, Votorantim may not be the most enticing place to put down roots.