Greater Houston Partnership Initiative, Mayor Annise Parker To Lead Delegation To India On April 20 -25, 2015

PRESS RELEASE: As the most diverse city in the United States, Houston is home to over 100,000 people of Indian-origin, and has more than 700 companies that do business with India

The Greater Houston Partnership and Mayor Annise Parker will lead a delegation of top business representatives and elected officials to India from April 20 to April 25. The mission will focus on increasing trade and investment between the Houston region and Indian cities including Mumbai and Delhi.

Houston Airport System Director Mario Diaz will be part of the Houston group that includes companies, ranging from energy and aviation to engineering and international trade and foreign investment.
Delegates also include representatives from the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce; the Texas Medical Center; the Port of Houston Authority; and local businesses – Isani Consultants L.P., KBR, Universal Weather and Aviation, Gunda Corporation LLC, The Asset Management Consultants, Strategic Infrastructure, Emediscript Inc./Vishal Consultancy, Telco Intercontinental Corp., Geotest Engineering, Inc. and Ascendon Group.

The delegation will host a “Doing Business with Houston” seminar for Indian business people and investors. In addition, the group will meet with high-level government officials and corporate decision-makers.

“More than 100,000 residents of Indian origin call Houston home and over 700 Houston companies report business or trade ties with India,” said Mayor Parker. “As the most diverse city in the United States, we have a responsibility to nurture our foreign relationships. This trade mission is the result of a request from the Indian business community. Given the strength of the existing connections between us, this should be a very productive mission for Houston and our Indian counterparts.”

Greater Houston Partnership President and CEO Bob Harvey added: “Our economy is diverse and robust, and is a leader in many of the types of industries that Indian entrepreneurs and business people are pursuing, including energy, healthcare, transportation and manufacturing.”

Houston and India share extensive business, trade and cultural ties.

“IACC’s current president Ashok Garg and past president Sanjay Ramabhadran join me in thanking Mayor Parker for leading the mission to India to help promote Houston as the gateway to the Americas for Indian businesses,” said Jagdip Ahluwalia, executive director of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.

As the fourth largest city in the United States, Houston serves as headquarters to as many as 26 Fortune 500 companies; is home to the world’s largest medical complex, the Texas Medical Center; and has earned the title “Energy Capital of the World” because of its large concentration of oil, gas and renewable energy companies.

Trade between Houston and India has more than quadrupled since 2004 and totaled $4.7 billion in 2014. The Houston/Galveston Customs District ranks as India’s third largest U.S. gateway for international trade by value. India is sixth among Houston’s Asian trading partners and 16th among Houston’s trading partners worldwide.

More than 718 Houston companies report business or trade ties with India. Of the 441 firms in the Houston region affiliated with Indian subsidiaries, 38 are headquartered in Houston. Conversely, 14 Indian firms operate 20 subsidiary locations in the Houston area.

“We are excited about the growth prospects this trade mission will bring for both our region and a global economic powerhouse like India,” said Harvey. “Houston presents a great opportunity for expanding Indian firms looking to do business overseas.” 

For more information on business and trade opportunities in Houston, visit www.houston.org. Please follow the official hashtag #IndiaHou on Twitter for updates on the Houston business delegation to India.

Greater Houston Partnership works to make Houston one of the world’s best places to live, work and build a business. It represents 11 counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker and Waller. With more than 1,400 member organizations, GHP represents approximately one-fifth of the region’s workforce. Opportunity HoustonSM, is an economic development initiative of the Partnership.  Visit the Partnership at www.houston.org .