> Mayor's Office of Trade and International Affairs > Trade and International Business Development
Trade and International Business Development
Houston is a hub for international commerce, positioned as the energy capital of the world and a global leader in healthcare, aeronautics, advanced manufacturing, and innovation. It is home to the largest U.S. port in the U.S. in foreign tonnage, two international airports, the largest medical center in the world, and the Ellington Space Port. Over 5,000 Houston companies are engaged in international business, and approximately 1,000 Houston firms report foreign ownership.
The City's global trade division acts as the Houston region's international business development office. We identify synergies between Houston based companies and international partners for growth opportunities, coordinate trade missions abroad, and facilitate inbound trade missions from foreign countries to Houston. We are committed to helping create jobs and economic opportunity for Houston residents by attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), building the startup and innovation ecosystem, and helping Houston area companies export and find new investment opportunities abroad.
Trade and Economic Development Resources
Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership
Central Houston
Chapter 311 of the Texas Tax Code
Export- Import Bank
Greater Houston Partnership
Harris County Economic Development
Houston District Export Council
Houston OBO Solutions Center
Lift Fund
Texas Economic Development Council
U.S. Commercial Service- Houston
U.S. Small Business Administration
Key Federal Agency Resources
EXIM Bank Credit Insurance
Small Business Administration International Sales
Small Business Administration Loan Guarantees
Small Business Development Centers
Trade Finance Guide
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service
U.S. Trade Representative
Past Trade and Economic Development Missions
Brazil
April 22 - 28, 2023
France
June 27 - July 1, 2022
- Facebook- Mayor Sylvester Turner Post
- LinkedIn- Day 1 MOTIA Post
- LinkedIn- Day 2 MOTIA Post
- LinkedIn- Day 3 MOTIA Post
- LinkedIn- Day 4 MOTIA Post
- LinkedIn- Day 5 MOTIA Post
- LinkedIn- FOSINA Post
- LinkedIn- Greater Houston Partnership Post
- LinkedIn- La French Tech Paris Saclay Accelair Post
- LinkedIn- Schlumberger Post
- Mayor’s Office Press Release- City of Houston, Greater Houston Partnership Lead Mission to France to Grow Business and Cultural Ties
- Mayor’s Office Press Release- Houston-France Delegation Focuses on Energy Transition and Growing Business Opportunities
- Rice University News- Rice to open International Campus in Paris
- Twitter - Mayor Sylvester Turner Post (1)
- Twitter - Mayor Sylvester Turner Post (2)
- Twitter- French Consulate General Valerie Baraban Post
- Twitter- French Consulate General Valerie Baraban Quai d’Orsay Post
- Twitter- InterstellarLab
Mexico
March 30 - April 1, 2022
- ABC Noticias- Meeting with the Mayor of Houston; Boost Tourism
- City of Houston Press Release- Mayor Turner Leads Successful Trade and Tourism Mission to Mexico
- Conecta- Houston Mayor Sees Potential for Academic Exchange with Tec
- Government of Mexico Press Release- Mexico and Houston, Texas, Strengthen Ties of Cooperation in Tourism
- Government of Mexico Press Release- Mexico and the City of Houston, Texas, hold Strategic Meeting
- Greater Houston Partnership- Houston-Mexico Business and Tourism Connections Bolstered through Mission
- Houston Business Journal- Houston Leaders visit Mexico to Increase Trade and Tourism for the Bayou City
- Houston First Press Release- Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston First Corporation Launch International Trade and Marketing Initiative in Mexico
- Mexico Extraordinario- Mexico and Houston, Texas Strengthen Ties of Cooperation in Tourism (Link expired)
- Facebook - MOTIA Posts
- Players of Life- Houston Strengthens Alliance with Nuevo Leon
- Ultimo Minuto- Sheinbaum Meets with Houston, Texas Mayor Sylvester Turner
Scotland
November 2 - 5, 2021
- City of Houston Press Release- Mayor Turner Begins COP26 Visit by Meeting with Global Leaders to Highlight Climate and Resilience Work in Houston
- Climate Mayors- All In
- Climate Mayors Send a Dispatch
- Houston Chronicle – Turner in Glasgow to Meet with Mayors of the World
- Houston Chronicle - Q&A: Houston Mayor Turner leaving Glasgow ‘optimistic’ about climate change talks
- KHOU - Mayor Turner Attends United Nations Climate Change Conference in Scotland
- KHOU- Mayor Turner attends United Nations Climate Change Conference
- Smart Cities World- Urban Exchange Episode 1: Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston
Japan
December 8-9, 2020
- Houston - Japan JETRO Business Webinar
- Facebook- MOTIA Post
- Greater Houston Partnership- Japan Consul General in Houston Discusses Trade and Investment in the Region
- JETRO- MOTIA's Investment and Trade Mission to Japan
Netherlands
November 16-18, 2020
Argentina, Chile, Peru
July 14- 20, 2018
- AM 1590 The Answer- Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner Leads South America Trip
- City of Houston Press Release- Mayors of Houston and Buenos Aires Agree to Share Cities' Best Practices
- Diamond McCarthy- Partner at Diamond McCarthy, Participates in Houston’s Trade & Investment Mission Delegation, Hosted in Argentina
- Facebook- Greater Houston Partnership Post
- Greater Houston Partnership- Mayor Turner, Partnership Lead Trade Mission to Peru, Chile and Argentina to Grow Business, Cultural Ties
- Global News Wire- Mayor Turner, Partnership lead trade mission to Peru, Chile and Argentina
- YouTube- Mayor Turner Discusses the July 14-21, 2018 Trade Mission to South America
Spain
September, 2018
- Gastech Insights - Mayor of Houston: Encouraging the development of the shale revolution (Link expired)
- Gastech- Exhibition and Conference Speakers (Link expired)
- Pipeline Oil and Gas News- Global energy capital Houston backs gas and renewable energies
- PR Newswire-As Houston Prepares to Host Gastech Exhibition and Conference 2019, Growing LNG Exports Could Offset Trade Deficit with The European Union
India
November 9-18, 2018
- Asian Hospitality- Mayor, hoteliers, other delegates on mission to explore trade opportunities, cultural understanding (Link expired)
- Business Standard- Houston mayor leads trade delegation to India
- City of Houston Press Release- Trade Mission India
- City of Houston News- Houston Trade Mission to India Opened Doors to More Local Economic and Cultural Expansion
- Energy World- Houston mayor leads trade delegation to India
- Greater Houston Partnership- Houston Trade Mission India Opened Doors Economic and Cultural Expansion
- Houston Public Media- Potential to Establish Direct Flight from Houston to India
- IF Magazine- The Honorable Sylvester Tuner Mayor of the City of the Future
- India Herald- SIMA And IAPAC Host Reception Honoring Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner
- Indo American Chamber of Commerce- Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Trade Mission to India
- Ismaili Mail- Houston Trade Mission to India Opened Doors to More Local Economic & Cultural Expansion
- New Indian Express- Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to Lead Trade Delegation to India
- NTV Houston- Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner meets in Mumbai with India Vice President Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu (Link expired)
- Outlook India- Houston mayor leads trade delegation to India
- Tribune India- Houston mayor leads trade delegation to India
- Voice of Asia- IACCGH team joins Mayor’s Turner’s Trade Mission to India (Link expired)
Israel
June, 2017
- Defender Network- Mayor Turner leads economic development mission to Israel
- Houston Chronicle- Houston mayor makes inroads during trip to Israel
- Houston Chronicle- Israel makes $1 million donation to Houston Jewish community
- Houston Public Media- Houston Delegation Visits Israel To Research High-Tech Start-Ups and Other Industries
- Jewish Herald- Mayor Turner’s Israel Visit Bolsters Tech Industry, Other Collaborations
- The Jerusalem Post- Houston mayor looks to Israel as he builds hi-tech sector
- The Times of Israel- Houston mayor seeks direct flights, stronger business ties with Israel
UK, Germany and Turkey
July, 2017
China
December 2-9, 2017
- City of Houston News- Mayor: City Trade Mission Finds “Golden Moment” for Economic Expansion with China
- Houston Airports- Houston Airports Joins Mayor Turner’s Business delegation on Trade Mission to China
- Houston Public Media- Turner Will Promote Houston And Explore Business Opportunities In China
- Mayor of Houston- Mayor to Lead Business Delegation on Trade Mission to China, Houston's 2nd Largest International Trading Partner
- Rare Houston- Already an International Hotspot, Houston’s Mayor Turner Is Reportedly On A Trade-Related Mission To Work With China
- Style Magazine- Mayor: City Trade Mission Finds "golden moment" for Economic Expansion with China
Cuba
September 25-27, 2016
- Baker Institute for Public Policy- U.S.-Cuba Relations Beyond 2016: Trade, Investment and Political Outlooks
- CubaSi- Houston mayor leads three-day trade mission to Cuba
- CW39 Houston- Mayor of Houston Makes Trade Mission Trip to Cuba
- Houston Airports- Houston's Cuba trade mission built up business relationships
- Houston Chronicle- Houston's Cuba trade mission built up business relationships
- Houston Chronicle.com- Houston's Cuba trade mission built up business relationships
- Midland Reporter-Telegram- Turner to lead trade trip to Cuba
- On Cuba News- Houston mayor: we want to be ready when the embargo is lifted
- Passport Houston- Trade Mission: Cuba
- The Oklahoman- Houston mayor embarks on trade mission to Cuba (Link expired)
- Times Union- Houston mayor takes trade mission trip to Cuba
South Africa
October 28- November 6, 2016
- International Guardian News- Mayor Turner Leads a Trade Delegation to South Africa
- Mayor of Houston- Mayor Turner Leads a Trade Delegation to South Africa
- Passport Houston- Trade Mission: South Africa
Mexico
November 20-22, 2016
- Houston Chronicle- On Mexico trade mission, Mayor Turner was ready for some football
- Houston Public Media- Mayor Turner and Greater Houston Partnership Lead Trade Delegation to Mexico City
- Mayor of Houston- Mayor Sylvester Turner, GHP Lead Houston Delegation to Mexico
- My San Antonio- Mayor Sylvester Turner excited about Texans, Mexico trade mission
- Passport Houston- Trade Mission: Mexico
- PR Newswire- Mayor, Partnership Lead Houston Delegation To Mexico City To Boost Business, Cultural Ties
- San Antonio Express-News- On Mexico trade mission, Mayor Turner was ready for some football
Bahrain
December 13-15, 2016
- AP News- Houston Chosen to Host 2020 World Petroleum Congress
- BIC Magazine- The 23rd World Petroleum Congress (Link expired)
- Channel Plus America- Houston to host the 23rd. World Petroleum Congress in 2020 (Link expired)
- Click2Houston- Houston Selected as site of 2020 World Petroleum Congress
- Daily Sabah- Houston mayor praises Istanbul World Petroleum Congress
- Facebook- Mayor Turner Post
- Forward Times- Houston Next Up as Host of World Petroleum Congress: 10,000 delegates expected at triennial conference in 2020
- Hart Energy- Third Time’s A Charm For Houston’s World Petroleum Conference Bid
- Houston Airports- Houston to Host World Petroleum Congress
- Houston Business Journal- Houston to host World Petroleum Congress, 10,000 expected to attend
- Houston Chronicle- Houston wins World Petroleum Congress for 2020
- Houston Public Media- Houston to Host 23rd World Petroleum Congress in 2020
- International Focus Houston- The Importance of Outbound Trade and Investment Missions
- Mayor of Houston- Mayor Departs for Bahrain to Make Final Pitch for 2020 World Petroleum Congress
- Mayor Sylvester Turner Youtube- Mayor Turner Welcomes World Petroleum Council 12/13/2017
- Passport Houston- WPC 2020: Houston Wins the 23rd World Petroleum Congress Bid
- Patch- It's Raining Oil: Houston To Host 2020 World Petroleum Congress
- Russian National Committee of World Petroleum Council- 33-23rd World Petroleum Congress (Link expired)
- The Leader- Houston selected as site for 2020 World Petroleum Congress (Link expired)
India
April 17-28, 2015
Indonesia and Taiwan
July 10-19, 2015
Mexico
September 27- 30, 2015
Contact MOTIA
Office of Trade and International Affairs
901 Bagby, 4th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 832.393.0700
Email: motia@houstontx.gov
