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International Business

Houston is a thriving, international city with one of the nation's largest consular corps and business and cultural ties stretching to all corners of the world. The region's geographic location makes it easy to move both goods and people around the world efficiently. From the Port of Houston and the Houston Airport System to a host of multi-national companies doing business around the clock, Houston is well-positioned to connect your business to the world market. The Partnership is connected to a global network of economic development organizations promoting international trade and investment through the Houston World Trade Association.

Business Climate

Houston's economy is deeply tied to global trade and foreign investment, serving as the base of operations for the international oil and gas exploration and production industry as well as for many of the nation's largest international engineering and construction firms. The region has trading relationships with over 200 countries and is also a key center for international finance, leading the Southwest U.S. with 17 foreign banks from nine nations.

Since 2009, more than 500 foreign-owned firms have announced over 700 projects in metro Houston, stretching across 65 industries and hailing from nearly 40 countries.

80+

Foreign consulates

39

Active foreign chambers of commerce and trade associations

19

Sister-city relationships

Houston Consular Corps

With over 80 different nations represented, Houston is home to the third-largest consular corps in the United States. Learn more about the Houston Consular Corps and the countries that maintain an active diplomatic presence in our region.

Houston Consular Corps

International Cos. Grew Jobs by 21% in Texas Over 5-Year Period

Foreign companies operating in Texas grew jobs in the Lone Star State by 21% over five years. The report by the Global Business Alliance trade group shows foreign direct investment (FDI) accounts for more than 678,000 jobs in Texas, with roughly 30% of those in the manufacturing sector.

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A Visit from the President of Panama and the Impact of the Panama Canal

President Laurentino Cortizo came to Houston in July to celebrate the five year anniversary of the expansion of the Panama Canal and discuss opportunities to further expand trade between Houston and Asia and other global markets through Panama.

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Chair of International Investment and Trade Discusses Houston's Position as a Great Global City

As a thriving, global city, Houston’s ties stretch to all corners of the world. The region's geographic location makes it easy to move both goods and people around the world efficiently.

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Explore what makes Houston the right global partner for your business.

Foreign Trade

Houston is one of the largest international trading hubs in the Americas. In fact, more of the region's economy is tied to exports than any other metro in the U.S. The region has trading relationships with more than 200 countries and for 37 of those countries, combined trade (imports and exports) exceeds $1 billion annually.

Trade Data
Data & Publications

Global Houston

This publication examines Houston's place in the global market and provides insight into our major trading partners. Houston’s ties to the global economy have grown with the city, and in many ways, those ties propelled Houston’s growth. The region’s fortunes now rise and fall with those of the global economy, making it even more important to examine our ties to the global economy and what they portend for Houston’s future growth.

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Airports

The Houston Airport System ranks as one of the largest multi-airport systems in North America. George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport offer direct passenger service to 118 domestic and 71 international destinations via 28 different airlines. HAS handled a total of 461,425 metric tons of air freight in 2017, with about half of that domestic and the other half international.

Airports Data
Economic Development

Greater Houston Partnership Receives 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Award

8/28/24
The Greater Houston Partnership received a 2024 Excellence in E...
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Port

The region is home to a number of ports including the ports of Houston, Galveston, Freeport and Texas City. The Port of Houston ranks first in the nation in foreign tonnage and is the largest container port on the Gulf Coast.

Port Data
Economic Development

State of the Port

The Port of Houston is renowned as a strategic gateway to the world and plays a vital role in facilitating international trade and driving economic growth. As the nation’s largest port in foreign tonnage, Port…

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Taxes & Incentives

Texas and Houston understand the need for a stable, business-friendly and transparent tax structure. Texas is one of the few states without a personal, state or corporate income tax, which makes the cost of doing business very competitive. Houston's cost-effective tax structure makes it a choice location for any company looking to establish a presence or expand their current footprint.

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18

Houston is home to 18 Forbes Global 2000 headquarters

Regional Profile

From energy and life sciences to manufacturing and aerospace, the Houston region offers a dynamic infrastructure to support a number of thriving, core industries.

Explore the Industries
Economic Development

Life Sciences and Biotechnology Forum

Finding solutions to the problems that matter most is baked into Houston’s DNA. As the Third Coast for Life Sciences, the region’s world-class medical centers, research institutes and private companies are taking on…

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Meet Us at an Upcoming Event

Economic Development

Future of Global Energy Conference Presented by Shell USA, Inc.

Join us at the annual Future of Global Energy Conference, presented by Shell USA, Inc. and hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI), and the Center for Houston's Future. This premier event convenes industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and academics to explore Houston's pivotal role in addressing the dual challenge of meeting growing energy demands while reducing carbon emissions. Conference Theme Houston’s Role in Meeting the Dual Energy and Climate Challenge As global energy demands soar, we must balance economic growth with urgent climate action. This conference delves into Houston's unique position to lead in this effort, driving innovation, collaboration, and investment towards a sustainable, low-carbon future. Key Topics Understanding Local and Global Energy Demand: Analyzing the implications of rising energy needs for Houston's energy sector. Balancing Growth and Sustainability: Strategies to meet energy demands while minimizing carbon footprints. Investment Opportunities: Identifying barriers and solutions to scaling low-carbon energy investments. Houston's Role in Innovation: Exploring how Houston fosters economic growth through pioneering energy technologies. Leveraging Partnerships: Enhancing collaboration across industries, academia, and government to accelerate progress. Conference Highlights Emerging Talent Program with support from Chevron: Emphasizing the importance of recruiting and nurturing talent equipped to navigate the dual energy and climate challenge. Judged Poster Competition: TEX-E will host a “dual challenge” poster competition featuring contributions from TEX-E fellows and local university students. Innovation Expo: A showcase of cutting-edge technologies and solutions for addressing the dual challenge. Agenda 8:15 - 8:55 a.m. | Morning Plenary  Context Setting: The Current State of the Economy Lorie K. Logan, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Jane Stricker, Senior Vice President of Energy Transition, Greater Houston Partnership & Executive Director, Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI)   9:10 - 9:50 a.m. | Session 1 – More Energy, More Value sponsored by Deloitte What is driving global energy demand, and how will Houston continue to deliver the energy the world needs at scale?  This session will explore energy and power demand from a range of areas (e.g., energy growth, energy transition, developing economies) and the implications for growth in LNG, hydrogen, ammonia, renewables, among other energy sources.  Michael Cohen, Chief US Economist and Head of Oil & Refining, bp Caton Fenz, CEO of Renewables North America, Repsol Andrey Shuvalov, VP, U.S. Energy Transition, Shell Moderator: Nichelle McLemore, Principal, Deloitte   10:05 - 10:45 a.m. | Session 2 – Houston – Epicenter of Energy Innovation for Scale Innovation for the energy transition will come from all corners of the world. How can Houston continue to leverage its existing capabilities, talent and infrastructure to bring new energy technologies and businesses to scale? This session will include a spotlight on three growth companies deploying new technologies and infrastructure that are needed for the future energy system. The energy leaders will share the approaches they are taking to scale their businesses, the benefits of being able to leverage from the incumbent industry in Houston, and the impact they are have in Houston, nationally and beyond.    Kristina Lund, President, Pattern Energy Brooke Vandygriff, Chief Operating Officer, HIF Global Bud Vos, CEO, MetOx International  Moderator: Barbara Burger, Corporate Graduate and Energy Director and Advisor   10:45 - 11:45 a.m. | Morning Break Poster Competition facilitated by TEX-E   Noon - 1:30 p.m. | Luncheon  Houston – Ambitions for an Energy and Low-Carbon Finance Capital Keynote Speaker: Dr. Carmichael S. Roberts, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Material Impact and Co-Lead, Investment Committee, Breakthrough Energy Ventures  Fireside Chat Moderator: Bobby Tudor, CEO, Artemis Energy Partners; Retired Founder and CEO of Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co., Artemis Energy Partners Sponsor remarks: Dr. Selda Gunsel, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Technology, Shell USA, Inc.   1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | Afternoon Break Innovation Expo: Showcasing Houston’s advancements in energy transition technologies   2:30 - 3:10 p.m. | Session 3 – Creating New Opportunities by Solving the Dual Challenge sponsored by Repsol  Houston is home to over 5000 energy companies – many with decades of experience in the production and delivery of energy. It is also one of the youngest and most diverse cities in the country. With that backdrop, how can Houston businesses leverage those strengths as we lead the world toward an energy abundant, lower carbon future in a way that creates economic opportunity for all?   This session will discuss Houston’s opportunity to attract and grow new businesses and projects that deliver low-carbon energy and emissions reduction technologies, and the region’s critical role in deploying those technologies to the world. This session will also explore the importance of recruiting new talent and developing a workforce that will bring diverse ideas, solutions and jobs to the region. Stuart Andreason, Executive Director of Programs, The Burning Glass Institute Leslie Beyer, Board Member: Patterson UTI-Energy (NASDAQ: PTEN), Forum Energy Technologies (NYSE: FET), Advisory Board Member: Veriten, UNC Kenan-Flagler Energy Center Jim Griffin, Associate Vice Chancellor, Senior Vice President - LyondellBasell Center for Petrochemical, Energy, & Technology, San Jacinto College Dr. Munir Quddus, Dean and Endowed Professor of Economics, College of Business, Prairie View A&M University Moderator: Debalina Sengupta, Chief Operating Officer, Energy Transition Institute, Division of Energy and Innovation, University of Houston   3:25 - 4:05 p.m. | Session 4 – Meeting the Dual Challenge, What is Holding Back Progress? Houston seemingly has all the elements needed to help the world meet the dual climate and energy challenge. What is keeping investment from flowing into low-carbon technologies and projects, and what do we need to unlock it?   This session will explore the policy & investment landscape for scaling new energy projects.  Speakers will discuss various approaches and hurdles to advancing and commercializing low-carbon and energy technologies. How can Houston leverage its energy scaling experience to accelerate growth of impactful solutions for the dual challenge?  Caroline Abramo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Pana LCE Investments Jonathan W. Cox, Co-Head Energy, Power, Renewables, Mining Investment Banking, JPMorgan Chase Kenneth B. Medlock, III, PhD, Senior Director, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Director, Master of Energy Economics, Rice University Moderator: Luciano Di Fiori, Partner - Energy Solutions, McKinsey & Company The Future of Global Energy Conference is your chance to engage with thought leaders and innovators who are shaping the future of energy. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of the conversation and drive meaningful change.

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Additional Resources

For international companies looking to establish a presence in Houston and existing businesses in the region looking to expand their footprint abroad, there are a number of resources that can help. 

Need more information about Houston? Your dedicated team member can help:

 
Facilitate and foster key introductions
 
Assist in evaluating and applying for incentives
 
Identify potential business facilities
Looking for the rest of our team?
Partnership Staff
Have someone from our Economic Development Team contact you:
Executive Partners