International Representation

• More than 90 Foreign Consulates in Houston
• 30 Active Foreign Chambers of Commerce and Foreign Trade Associations
• 18 Foreign Government Trade Representatives and Commercial Offices
• 22 Foreign Banks from 12 nations
• More than 1 million Houston area residents — more than one in five are foreign born
• 17 sister-city relationships promoting business opportunities across six continents

State and Regional Incentives

• Texas Enterprise Fund
• Texas Emerging Technology Fund
• The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
• Foreign Trade Zones
• Tax Phase-In Programs »»
• Pollution Control Property Tax Abatements »»

2011 Fortune 500 Headquarters in Houston

• Anadarko
• Apache
• Baker Hughes
• Calpine
• Cameron International
• CenterPoint Energy
• ConocoPhillips
• Continental Airlines
• El Paso Corporation
• Enbridge Energy Partners
• Enterprise GP Holdings
• EOG Resources
• FMC Technologies
• Frontier Oil
• Group 1 Automotive
• Halliburton
• Kinder Morgan
• KBR
• Marathon Oil
• National Oilwell Varco
• Plains All American Pipeline
• Smith International
• Spectra Energy
• Sysco
• Waste Management

Houston Industry Strengths

Energy & Renewables
Houston is the Energy Capital of the World in both traditional and renewable sources. The area is home to more than 3,700 energy-related companies including more than 500 exploration and production firms. In addition to its expertise in the petrochemical industry, the region is diversifying its energy portfolio targeting wind and solar power. The City of Houston is the largest municipal purchaser of renewable energy in the nation.

Manufacturing
Houston is the #1 Manufacturing City in the U.S. and home to nearly 4,000 manufacturers who employ almost a quarter-million skilled workers. Houston has one of the largest concentrations of industrial space in the nation and is continuing to expand at a rapid pace to meet future demand.

Biotechnology, Nanotechnology and Life Sciences The Houston region is home to the world's largest research and applied medical center with more than 49 leading institutions including 13 hospitals and is the Birthplace of Nanotechnology.

Distribution and Logistics
Houston's location in the South Central United States places it equidistant from the East and West Coast markets and business centers making it a logical transportation and distribution hub. The Port of Houston is #1 in the U.S. in Foreign Tonnage and is expanding to accommodate new traffic from the Panama Canal.

Aviation and Aerospace
The Houston region is the hub for the U.S. aerospace industry and space commercialization activities through NASA's Johnson Space Center. Occupying 1,620 acres, JSC is one of NASA's largest research & development facilities and attracts the nation's best high-tech professionals. In addition, Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Houston's airports as the best in the world.

Houston: Your Global Gateway for Business

AS THE GATEWAY TO GLOBAL MARKETS, the Houston region is strategically positioned to serve U.S. and world markets.

THE HOUSTON REGION IS INNOVATIVE

The Houston region is first in manufacturing, home to the largest medical center in the world, NASA's Johnson Space Center and is the leading domestic and international center for virtually every segment of the energy industry. By the very nature of Houston's top industry sectors such as aerospace, energy and medical sciences, the region excels in innovations that will change the world.

OUR INFRASTRUCTURE IS SECOND TO NONE

We offer the facilities, people and business concentration, resources and low costs that are essential to the growth of corporations. The region is connected through a superior distribution and logistics system anchored by the Port of Houston and Houston Airport System.

HOUSTON IS DIVERSE

In racial and ethnic composition, the Houston of today resembles the demography of the U.S. in 40 years. THE PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE OF THE GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP, which traces its roots back to Houston's original Chamber of Commerce founded in 1840, is to build regional economic prosperity.

OUR AGGRESSIVE MARKETING AND LEAD GENERATION PROGRAM

Opportunity Houston^SM is the vehicle by which GHP is helping grow jobs, increasing capital investment and expanding foreign trade for the region by the end of 2015. GHP took another step to grow the region's economy by joining the World Bank Group PSLO Network in January 2010.

Global Corporate Center

Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and one of the premier business centers in the world.

The Houston MSA's gross product is $435.9 billion according to The Perryman Group. Its economy is larger than that of Belgium, Malaysia, Venezuela and Sweden. Only 27 foreign nations' gross product exceeds Houston's.

More than 1,500 local firms provide international services and of the world's 100 largest non-U.S. corporations, 62 have operations in Houston.

GHP Business Services

GHP and its partners offer an array of services to company start-ups or businesses wishing to expand or relocate in the area.

• » Facilitate and Foster Key Introductions
• » Assist in Evaluating and Applying for Incentives
• » Facilitate Permitting Process
• » Identify Potential Business Facilities
• » Provide Data on Key Business Factors
• » Provide logistical support for inbound delegations and outbound trade missions

Contact Us

Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and one of the premier business centers in the world.

Greater Houston Partnership
1200 Smith Street, Suite 700
Houston, Texas 77002
Phone: 713.844.3606

Or, to send an email to our International Business team, please use our Contact Form >>