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International Business and Recruitment

Texas is a leader in the global marketplace. The State of Texas has led the nation in exports for three consecutive years (2002 - 2004) with a total of $311.5 billion in exported products (according to the U.S. Department of Commerce). Continuing to foster an environment for job growth, opportunity and prosperity for the people of Texas are among the top priorities of the governor. In order to do what it takes so that businesses can be successful, the State of Texas has made investment in Texas and assisting Texas manufacturers with exports, economic development priorities. In short, the program is to market Texas and assist communities to maximize economic development opportunities in a global economy.

Products from the State of Texas are shipped around the globe and reach more than 200 countries each year. From 1997 to 2004, the State of Texas has exported more than $748.6 billion in manufactured products to countries around the world, with Mexico, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, and the Singapore as the top exporting partners during that same period. In 2004, Texas exported approximately $117.2 billion worldwide, which included in the top 5 exporting countries, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, China and Taiwan. Southern Business & Development Magazine (Fall 2004) stated the Texas Foreign Trade Zones led the U.S. with more than $3.5 billion in exports in 2003.

Foreign investment in Texas over the last two years (2002-2003) has remained constant at approximately $85 million per year, and in the last seven years foreign investment in Texas has been $659 million.

Overview

  • The International Business & Recruitment (IBR) Program helps Texas companies expand into foreign markets and to assist with recruiting foreign companies to Texas.
  • Companies in Texas are encouraged to broaden their scope worldwide, and they are provided with a method for doing so.
  • The IBR gives Texas companies the opportunity to promote their products and services to international buyers and partners through trade missions, trade shows, seminars and inbound buyer missions.
  • The IBR connects companies with trade counseling and training programs available through the International Small Business Development Centers and U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Centers.
  • The IBR works with entities such as the US Department of Commerce, U.S. Commercial Service Export Assistance Centers, the Small Business Development Centers, the Texas consular corps, and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and with its counterpart in the State of Texas - NAFTA Office in Mexico City to ensure that Texas companies are represented abroad.
  • The IBR markets the State of Texas as a business location. This program activity is to market Texas by attending trade shows and trade missions, conferences and seminars - both nationally and internationally. These program activities, coupled with strategic partnerships between communities, businesses, and other local, state and federal agencies, play a key role in how IBR markets Texas. The main goal of these activities is to creating financial investment and job creation in Texas.

Services

Trade Missions and Trade Shows

  • Trade Specialists and Trade Advisors target the best prospects for export growth around the world, and organize events in regions that will maximize the exposure of Texas businesses.
  • Texas companies participate in Texas Economic Development sponsored and organized trade missions and catalog shows under the State of Texas "banner," for increased visibility and name recognition.

(See the Calendar of Events for a listing of recent and upcoming trade events).

Trade Lead Distribution

  • Foreign trade leads are acquired from trade missions, catalog shows, foreign inquiries, USDOC, and other resources.
  • Trade leads are researched and information is relayed to Texas companies.
  • Trade leads from the USDOC U.S. Commercial Service are available to Texas businesses electronically at http://www.export.gov/partners_and_trade_leads/index.asp

Texas International Center (currently not available)

  • Accredited foreign representatives of trade, tourism, and development organizations are welcome to work within the agency at its Texas International Center.
  • The Texas International Center provides a method in which foreign representatives may increase business ties between Texas companies and those of their home country.

Export Counseling

  • Basic and advanced export counseling is provided by Texas' network of International Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), in cooperation with the International Business and Recruitment Program.
  • Texas companies that are new to exporting, as well as those firms ready to export but in need of specific assistance with customs, permission, finance, or market analysis, are encouraged to contact the International SBDCs for resource referrals, preliminary counseling, trade leads and workshops.

International SBDCs

Below are the International Small Business Development Centers located in Texas:

Additional Export Counseling

Various City offices and Chambers of Commerce host international visitors on a daily basis, contact these offices to learn how you can become involved with their programs:

World Trade Centers located in Texas

Resources

State of Texas -NAFTA Office

The State of Texas, NAFTA Office in Mexico City works to strengthen trade, investment, and tourism ties between Texas and Mexico. Texas businesses and communities are provided with a voice in Mexico, as well as contacts to facilitate business arrangements. Like the IBR, the State of Texas - NAFTA Office processes trade leads for Texas firms that can supply requested goods and services. The State of Texas-NAFTA Office also assists in coordinating Texas participation in selected trade events in Mexico. Contact the director, Monica Sanchez; Phone: 011/525-514-8100.

Partnerships

The International Business & Recruitment Program works closely with the U.S. Department of Commerce-Foreign Service Offices, U.S. Commercial Service Export Assistance Centers, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and the District Economic Development Councils (DECD), with the purpose of assisting Texas exporters.

U.S. Department of Commerce - U.S. Export Assistance Centers

The US Department of Commerce, Commercial Service Export Assistance Centers (EAC) assists established business four ways to grow their international sales, which include world class market research, trade events, finding international partners and counseling advise. Contact one of the following locations for assistance from the USDOC:

District Export Councils

District Export Councils (DECs) are organizations of leaders from the local business community appointed by successive U.S. Secretaries of Commerce. Their knowledge of international business provides a source of professional advice for local firms. For more than 25 years, DECs have served the United States by assisting companies in their local communities export, thus promoting our country's economic growth and creating new and higher-paying jobs for their communities. Closely affiliated with the Commercial Service's Export Assistance Centers, the 56 DECs combine the energy of more than 1,500 exporters and private and public export service providers throughout the United States (www.us-doc.com). There are four District Export Councils in Texas: North Texas District Export Council (covering DFW and North Texas), Texas Camino Real Export Council (covering Austin, San Antonio, Central and South Texas), West Texas (covering Midland, and panhandle), and the Houston Export Council (covering surrounding area of Houston). For more information on Texas members visit: www.exporttexas.com.

Other Resources

The Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Division has several information programs and services that provide useful resources for companies interested in expanding internationally. These programs include:

  • Searchable database of international trade programs available through federal, state, and regional organizations.
  • Database of Texas export data as well as an analysis of current trade trends, a series of useful publications, including Global Texas (a reference book of information and contacts), and Highlights of Texas Exports (detailed annual export data and analysis).
  • Also listed are free information kits on Export Intermediates, Foreign Trade Zones, Getting Started in Export/Import, and NAFTA Resources.

Export Financing

Export Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank)

The Export Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) is the official export credit agency of the United States. Ex-Im Bank's mission is to assist in financing the export of U.S. goods and services to international markets. Ex-Im Bank enables U.S. companies - large and small - to turn export opportunities into real sales that helps to maintain and create U.S. jobs and contribute to a stronger national economy. Ex-Im Bank does not compete with private sector lenders but provides export financing products that fill gaps in trade financing. We assume credit and country risks that the private sector is unable or unwilling to accept. We also help to level the playing field for U.S. exporters by matching the financing that other governments provide to their exporters. Ex-Im Bank provides working capital guarantees (pre-export financing); export credit insurance; and loan guarantees and direct loans (buyer financing). No transaction is too large or too small. On average, 85% of the transactions directly benefit U.S. small businesses. With more than 70 years of experience, Ex-Im Bank has supported more than $400 billion of U.S. exports, primarily to developing markets worldwide. The Texas office contact information is listed below.
Export-Import Bank of the United States
1880 South Dairy Ashford II, Suite 585; Houston, Texas 77077-4746
Tel: 281-721-0468, Fax: 281-679-0156

Small Business Administration

The Small Business Administration Special Purpose Loan Programs are numerous variations of SBA's basic loan programs and are made available to support special needs. International trade, military transition and employee trusts are just some of the special loan programs offered by the SBA. The International trade loans are as follows: Export Working Capital; Export Express; and International Trade Loans. Offices in Texas are as follows:

  • DALLAS REGIONAL VI OFFICE
    4300 Amon Carter Boulevard Suite 108, Fort Worth, TX 76155
    Tel: 817-684-5581, Fax: 817-684-5588
    TTY / TDD Number 817-684-5552
  • Corpus Christi Branch Office
    3649 Leopard Street, Suite 411, Corpus Christi, TX 78408
    Tel: 361-879-0017
  • Dallas District Office (also SBA Region VI Office)
    4300 Amon Carter Blvd. Suite 114, Fort Worth, Texas 76155
    Tel: 817-684-5500, Fax: 817-684-5516
  • El Paso District Office
    10737 Gateway Blvd. West, El Paso, TX 79935
    Tel: 915-633-7001, Fax: 915-633-7005
  • Harlingen District Office
    222 East Van Buren Street, Suite 500, Harlingen, TX 78550
    Tel: 956-427-8533
  • Houston District Office
    8701 S. Gessner Drive, Suite 1200, Houston, Texas 77074
    Tel: 713-773-6500, Fax: 713-773-6550
  • Lubbock District Office
    1205 Texas Avenue, Room 408, Lubbock, TX 79401-2693
    Tel: 806-472-7462, Fax: 806-472-7487

Overseas Private Investment Corporation

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) was established in 1971 as a self-sustaining U.S. government development agency whose mission is to mobilize and facilitate the participation of United States private capital and skills in the economic and social development of less developed countries and areas, and countries in transition from non-market to market economies. It carries out this mission by:

  • providing political risk insurance to help U.S companies manage risk;
  • providing financing through direct loans and loan guaranties; and
  • leveraging private capital through OPIC-supported funds.

Overseas Private Investment Corporation
1100 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20527
(OPIC InfoLine) Tel: 202-336-8799; Fax: 202-408-9859
http://www.opic.gov; info@opic.gov

Recruitment

Foreign Companies interested in Investing in Texas (Doing Business in Texas) and are in need of additional information please contact the International Business and Recruitment Program at 1-512-936-0101. For information on the basic Texas Business Incentives for Investing in Texas, please download the information provided (Texas Business Incentives).

To assist us with helping you with further information please download and complete the Foreign Company Information Form. This information will give us a better understanding of what you do and of your needs. Please fax this form to the International Business and Recruitment Program at 1-512-936-0080.


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Header Photo by Bob Daemmrich