HOUSTON GATEWAY TO THE AMERICAS
"Strengthen Business Relationships between the Houston Region and
Ibero America"
August 26, 2019
Partnership Tower
Partnership Tower
Grulac (Iberoamerica Consular Group) and GHP (Greater Houston Partnership) joined efforts to organize the third version of the “Houston Gateway to the Americas” conference, which was recently held on Monday, August 26th, 2019 at the Partnership Tower in Houston, TX. The purpose of the event was to bring Houston and the Americas closer together while generating opportunities. In this one-day event, thirty-eight distinguished panelists participated in eight panels sessions that emphasized different sectors of Houston's economy. Topics included consulting/ business services, energy/oil & gas, trade, sea transportation & logistics, local governments, education, technology & innovation, air & land transportation and logistics, and hospitality.
BREAKFAST |
LUNCH |
LOCAL GOVERMENTS PANEL |
The Breakfast was welcomed by Bob Harvey, CEO of GHP, Mamadou Beye, General Manager-Policy Government & Corporate Affairs from Chevron, and Honorable Jack Field, CEO from Twenty First Century Group and Ambassador Juan B. Sosa, Consul General of Panama and Dean of the Consular Corps of Houston. During Lunch Honorable Andy Icken, Chief Development Officer from the City of Houston, The Commissioner Adrian Garcia, from Harris County Precinct 2 and Dr. Jaime Ortiz, Vice Provost Global Strategies and Studies from the University of Houston presented the remarks.
In the Local Governments Panel, the Honorable David Allen Mayor from the City of Prairie View, Honorable David Robinson, Council Member from City of Houston, and Chris Canetti, President of Houston World Bid Committee Harris County, participated as speakers for the panel.
In the Local Governments Panel, the Honorable David Allen Mayor from the City of Prairie View, Honorable David Robinson, Council Member from City of Houston, and Chris Canetti, President of Houston World Bid Committee Harris County, participated as speakers for the panel.
The presence of 12 of the Consul General from Iberoamerica was a key element for the public, due to their important role in promoting and bringing opportunities Houston and Iberoamerica. The consuls that participated were Hon. Gabriel Volpi (Argentina), Amb. Jose Borges dos Santos (Brazil), Hon. Jose Luis Briceño (Chile), Hon. Amalia Salgado (Colombia), Hon. Herbert Espinoza (Costa Rica), Hon. Ruth Maria Dueñas (Ecuador), Hon. Nancy Guevara (El Salvador), Amb. Julia Alicia Olmo y Romero (Spain), Hon. Yolanda Oliva (Honduras), Hon Alicia Kerber-Palma (Mexico), Amb. Juan B. Sosa (Panama), Hon. Rodolfo Coronado (Peru).
The event concluded with a entertaining successful closing reception.
The event concluded with a entertaining successful closing reception.
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About the Region
There are nineteen Spanish & Portuguese speaking countries in the Americas totaling 630 million people. Their trade with the United States is $872 billion a year, 21% of total U.S. trade, with the United states having a positive trade balance of $53 billion. Spain & Portugal add 56 million people and $36 billion in trade.
This trade is important for the economy of the United States, both in exports and imports. Houston is one of the most important metropolitan regions in trade with the Americas together with New York and Miami, led by the Port of Houston, the largest port in the U.S. in foreign tonnage. Besides having a large attractive market with a high proficiency of Spanish-speaking population, Houston is positioned to become the "Gateway to the Americas" for the central region of the United States, deeply connected to Houston and Texas by an impressive infrastructure of roads and railroads.
The airport system of Houston is another asset of the region. With Houston Intercontinental having direct flights to most capitals in the Americas, supported by United Airlines' headquarters for Latin America in Houston and the marketing agreement with COPA Airlines in Panama, Houston enjoys an excellent connectivity with countries and cities of the Americas, especially with Mexico with more than forty destinations. The new international role of Hobby Airport with Southwest Airlines leading the way adds to the connectivity of Houston.
Another important factor in favor of Houston is its leadership in several economic sectors that are also important to the Americas, making it an attractive city and region to do business. Therefore, there is no reason why the Houston region could not aspire to become the "Gateway to the Americas". The conference is designed to highlight these opportunities but it will require the active participation of all sectors to accomplish this goal. GRULAC and GHP, with this conference, are providing a leadership role that is destined to bring about positive results.
This trade is important for the economy of the United States, both in exports and imports. Houston is one of the most important metropolitan regions in trade with the Americas together with New York and Miami, led by the Port of Houston, the largest port in the U.S. in foreign tonnage. Besides having a large attractive market with a high proficiency of Spanish-speaking population, Houston is positioned to become the "Gateway to the Americas" for the central region of the United States, deeply connected to Houston and Texas by an impressive infrastructure of roads and railroads.
The airport system of Houston is another asset of the region. With Houston Intercontinental having direct flights to most capitals in the Americas, supported by United Airlines' headquarters for Latin America in Houston and the marketing agreement with COPA Airlines in Panama, Houston enjoys an excellent connectivity with countries and cities of the Americas, especially with Mexico with more than forty destinations. The new international role of Hobby Airport with Southwest Airlines leading the way adds to the connectivity of Houston.
Another important factor in favor of Houston is its leadership in several economic sectors that are also important to the Americas, making it an attractive city and region to do business. Therefore, there is no reason why the Houston region could not aspire to become the "Gateway to the Americas". The conference is designed to highlight these opportunities but it will require the active participation of all sectors to accomplish this goal. GRULAC and GHP, with this conference, are providing a leadership role that is destined to bring about positive results.
Global City Houston Highlights
Houston’s status as a global city is reflected in the strong international representation in the city:
- More than 90 consulates (third in the nation), nineteen of them from Ibero-America countries
- 30+ bi-national chambers of commerce
- 19 foreign banks from ten nations
- 2500+ Houston manufacturing firms engaged in global trade
- 1700+ Houston firms report foreign ownership
- 5000+ Houston companies doing business abroad
- Forty-one Houston firms operate 119 locations in Mexico
- Fifty-one Houston firms operate 128 subsidiaries in Brazil
- One of every four Houstonians (1.6 million) were born outside of the United States
- 37% of the population is of Latin origin
Houston Region Overview
Ten counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto and Waller make the Houston-Galveston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
- The Houston region ranks fourth in population and is the seventh largest metro economy
- The Port of Houston is ranked first in the U.S. in foreign tonnage
- The Houston Airport System (HAS) has two international airports
- Houston has 188 non-stop destinations to 37 countries. It has 63 daily non-stop flights to Mexico
- Houston metro has led the nation in exports nine of the last ten years
- 517 foreign-owned firms, directly or through subsidiaries, have announced investments in Houston over the last ten years
By Greater Houston Partnership
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City of Houston Video
video by: Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau |
Video de la ciudad de Houston
Gentileza de Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau |
CO-HOST OF THE CONFERENCE
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