Viewpoint

Members:

At the Partnership, we’ve been keeping our eyes on our North Star, the Strategic Plan, and taking the necessary steps to make the Houston region the best place to grow business.

One of the four visions in the Strategic Plan, Vision 2, calls for us to make the Houston region a Gateway to Global Markets. We will accomplish this vision by leading and facilitating initiatives that help us achieve our goals to:

  1. Establish Houston as one of the top four international trade regions in the U.S.;
  2. Increase foreign trade in the region by $120 billion over the next 10 years; and
  3. Develop and implement a plan to substantially increase direct foreign investment in the region by the end of 2015.

Following are some past and upcoming activities the Partnership has planned to establish Houston as the gateway to global markets.

Texas Business Mission to Brazil and Argentina
The Partnership participated in the State of Texas Business Mission to Brazil and Argentina last month. Tracye McDaniel, Executive Vice President and COO, and Adam Gibson, Vice President of World Trade, represented the Partnership on this Opportunity HoustonSM-sponsored mission. The delegation, led by Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson, spent several days in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Buenos Aires. The group met with site selectors, government representatives and the international team of Petrobras. TexasOne and Opportunity HoustonSM also presented two investment seminars – in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires – to audiences of 50 business decision-makers in each city. The group also met with a Brazilian airline to discuss the possibility of having a direct (passenger or cargo) flight from Rio de Janeiro to Houston.

Both Brazil and Argentina have Houston Consular offices, and more than 900 Houston-area companies trade with Latin America. The value of total exports from Houston to Brazil grew 25.3% from 2006 to 2007, and the import value grew 12.5% for a total in excess of $7.4 billion. The value of total exports from Houston to Argentina grew 17.1% from 2006 to 2007, and the import value grew 12.8% for a total in excess of $1.6 billion.

City of Houston Business Development Mission to UAE and Qatar
I will be traveling to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and Doha, Qatar, April 17-24. This high-level business delegation will be organized by the Bilateral U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce, led by Houston Mayor Bill White, and will meet with top government officials and business leaders in the Arab Gulf region. Opportunity HoustonSM will host two networking receptions with the U.S. Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Doha including a pre-selected group of C-level executives that have expressed interest in learning more about investing or establishing representation in the greater Houston region. The Partnership will meet one-on-one with eight targeted relocation or expansion prospect companies throughout the mission.

This mission trip will allow us to interact with the UAE government, share the mutual benefits of opening a Consulate in Houston, and influence major companies in UAE and Qatar to open offices in our region. More than 600 Houston-area companies trade with the Middle East. The value of total exports from Houston to UAE grew 30.1% from 2006 to 2007, and the import value grew 23% for a total in excess of $1.4 billion. The value of total trade from Houston to Qatar totals $420.2 million. Exports accounted for 91.8% for all shipments and imports accounted for 8.2%.

Harris County Business Development Mission to India
International Business Manager Jensen Shen and I will participate in a business development mission organized by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston to Pune and Mumbai, India, led by Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, April 24 to May 3. This mission will consist of meetings with government officials and business leaders in both cities. Additionally, Opportunity HoustonSM will host networking receptions in both Pune and Mumbai for a pre-selected group of companies interested in investing or establishing a presence in the greater Houston region. We will have one-on-one meetings with eight companies targeted as relocation or expansion prospect companies on the mission.

With regard to our relationship with India, five Indian companies have offices in Houston, and 36 Houston firms have subsidiaries in India. The value of total exports from Houston to India grew 31.4% from 2006 to 2007 and the import value grew 36.2% for a total in excess of $2.6 billion.

Offshore Technology Conference
We are proud that Houston will be hosting the 2008 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), at the Reliant Center, May 5-8. OTC is the premier offshore industry event for professionals, service industries and suppliers to gather and discuss common issues of ocean resource development. Technological innovations and forums on economic, social and political aspects of resource development and environmental protection have been the mainstay of this worldwide conference.

This year at OTC, the Partnership will host a table at the International Lounge, provide collateral material and schedule one-on-one appointments for the international delegates. Additionally, we will brief the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service officers and their delegations from nearly 20 countries around the globe on the advantages of the Houston region.

The Partnership, which serves as the permanent secretariat for the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP), will provide two networking opportunities for Houston companies to meet with the mayors of the 14 member-cities of WECP and their delegations during OTC.

Latin Grammy Awards
The Partnership will be supporting the 9th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, coming to Houston November 13, and broadcast live from the Toyota Center. The Partnership will support and promote visible initiatives that differentiate Houston and capitalize on core strengths and resources. Board member Mathew Knowles will serve as Project Chair for the Partnership’s involvement in this effort. To this end, Mayor Bill White has asked the business community to commit to raising $1 million in corporate support to bring the Latin Grammy Awards to Houston this year. Chairman Dan Wolterman, John Hofmeister, and Massey Villareal will be heading our fundraising effort.

In addition to the economic benefit from the thousands of visitors to the region, the Houston business community will realize a great buzz about the Houston region among the Latin community around the world. Hosting the Latin Grammy Awards will also underscore the region as the leading gateway to global markets and a global leader, showcase strengths of the Houston business community, emphasize the region’s rich diversity, and effectively reach the fastest growing demographic in the U.S. – Hispanics. Houston actually has the nation's fifth largest Hispanic population, with 1,823,830 Hispanic residents, so you can imagine how exciting and historical this event will be for all of us!

These are only some of the ways we are working to positively impact regional prosperity. To see how you and your business can get involved, visit our Web site at houston.org.

Onward,


Jeff Moseley
President and CEO