May '22 MOTIA Newsletter

Dear Friends of the Mayor’s Office of Trade and International Affairs (MOTIA),

May is World Trade Month, and Houston continued to lead the U.S. in foreign trade. Nearly 20% of the region’s economy is tied to exports. If Houston were a country, it would rank as the 27th largest economy in the world - exceeding Austria’s and Nigeria’s gross domestic product. We attribute this partly to being home to the third-largest number of Fortune 500 companies in the nation, being home to more than 12,000 companies exporting goods and services overseas, and having 42 active foreign chambers of commerce and 15 foreign trade and commercial offices, in addition to the third-largest consular corps in the nation.

In May Houston again hosted the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in the world, where over 1,060 companies from 39 countries exhibited. We also welcomed the Mayors and officers of the World Energy Cities Partnership back to Houston for the annual working meetings. To wrap up the month, MOTIA met visiting government officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, and Mozambique. As one of the month's highlights, MOTIA welcomed nearly 20 African Ambassadors to Houston for Africa Day, to further engage with the African continent, exchange ideas, and increase trade.

Behind the far-reaching work of Houston's chambers and trade organizations are individual Houstonians who serve as important links between Houston and the world. This month, the Japanese government recognized and awarded one Houstonian the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays (scroll down to learn more), for her work building the U.S. -Japan relationship. Thank you to all, for all you do to make Houston such an amazing global city.

Sincerely,

On May 20, on behalf of the City of Houston, MOTIA hosted the 5th annual Houston Africa Day celebration. Houston welcomed Her Excellency Hilda Suka-Mafudze, the Permanent Representative of the African Union to the United States, as well as nearly 20 Ambassadors from African nations to a celebration of African cuisine, arts, music, and traditions, showcasing different regions of the African continent while embracing Houston's cultural diversity. The event, held annually by Mayor Sylvester Turner, highlighted the diversity of the nation's 4th most populous city and our global presence. This year, we welcomed the ambassadors with a breakfast business meeting discussing increasing trade and investment opportunities between Houston and the continent, followed by an executive luncheon, and concluding with a cultural reception with several hundred attendees.

"I am proud to say that as the most diverse city in the United States, Houston has one of the largest African diasporas in the entire country. More than 115,000 people living in the Houston metro were born in Africa. And I am also proud to say that my administration began the City of Houston’s official Africa Day celebration, where we gather and acknowledge Africa’s global presence and importance, and the many contributions Houstonians of African descent have made to our city."

- Mayor Sylvester Turner

For the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP) Officers and Mayors met in person for the 2022 WECP Working Group Meetings. During the WECP Working Group Meetings, T.H. Jesper Frost Rasmussen, Mayor of Esbjerg, Denmark was elected President of the World Energy Cities Partnership, and T.H. Eng. Fahad Mohammad Aljubair, Mayor of Eastern Province Municipality Dammam, Saudi Arabia was elected for the Vice Presidency. Mayor Rasmussen served as Vice-President of the WECP during the 2019 - 2022 period and was unanimously elected president and received strong support from former WECP President, Lord Provost Barney Crockett and WECP Secretary-General, Mayor Sylvester Turner. The next official event in the WECP calendar will be in Esbjerg on October 5-8 – the 2022 WECP Annual General Meeting. As President and host, Mayor Jesper Frost Rasmussen looks forward to welcoming the delegations led by the cities’ mayors.

"I am happy and proud of the declaration of confidence shown by the other member cities, as they unanimously point to me as president. For Esbjerg, the membership has worked as a unique showcase, where our green transformation has inspired the other cities. Although Esbjerg cannot compete with some of the other member cities in terms of size, they have listened carefully when I have talked about what our companies can do and how far Denmark is ready to go to achieve specific climate goals.”

- Mayor Rasmussen

Learn more

Houston once again hosted the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) celebrating 50 years since OTC’s flagship conference began in 1969. OTC 2022 welcomed more than 24,000 attendees, with nearly 7,000 traveling from outside the United States to discuss the full range of energy transition solutions. Also known for its stout technical program, OTC held 44 technical sessions, presenting more than 300 technical papers. Experts representing diverse offshore technologies provided key insights on how their projects and industries are developing the latest innovations to secure affordable energy while advancing climate goals. This includes the global growth of offshore wind. Throughout the week, 1,064 exhibiting companies from 39 countries showcased the future of offshore activities. The total economic impact of OTC 2022 on Houston is estimated at more than $20 million. This includes business-to-business transactions and the direct economic impact of attendees.

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The Offshore Technology Conference brought thousands of international visitors to Houston. Further building Houston's Africa engagement program, MOTIA welcomed government officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, and Mozambique for meetings at City Hall to exchange ideas to increase trade, future delegations to Houston, and ways in which we can meet energy needs in countries with increasing energy demands. Houston is a thriving international city, connecting companies, and talent from all corners of the world.

The Greater Houston Partnership hosted the annual the State of Houston’s Global Economy, providing an analysis of global business and economic trends and their impact on our regional market. The region’s geographic location makes it easy to move both goods and people around the globe due to its proximity to one of the largest ports in the country and two international airports. In addition to Houston's position as one of America's most diverse cities, the region offers a well-developed suite of key global industries – including energy, life science, manufacturing, logistics, and aerospace. The Partnership’s Senior Vice President of Research, Patrick Jankowski, presented the 2022 Global Houston publication, offering insights on the Houston region's leading international trade partners and other global business data. This report examines the Houston region's ties to the global economy with profiles of leading international trade partners and other global business data.

Learn more | Download your free copy

(From left, Mr. Glenn Gondo, The Honorable Hirofumi Murabayashi, Consul General of Japan, Ms. Donna Cole, and Mayor Sylvester Turner.)

Donna Fujimoto Cole, President, and CEO of Cole Chemical & Distributing Inc. was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays, in recognition of her contributions to promoting regional exchange and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. Ms. Cole is a Japanese American, and one of the region’s most successful business leaders. She founded Cole Chemical in 1980 and guided its development to be among Houston’s top chemical distributors. She has previously served in roles including President of the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) and a former board member of the U.S.-Japan Council. Additionally, Ms. Cole has promoted Japan-U.S. grassroots exchange through the Houston-Chiba Sister City relationship, supporting its youth-exchange program and assisting with high-level missions between the two cities. She has also strengthened Japan-Texas economic ties, including her Chair role for the 2018 Japan-Texas Economic Summit, where she collaborated with dozens of cities and organizations to bring together over 400 business leaders from Japan and Texas.

Furthermore, Ms. Cole has contributed greatly to the sharing of Japanese culture with people in Houston. This includes her support for the annual Japan Festival Houston, which attracts 30,000 participants to Hermann Park every year, her contributions to projects such as the opening of the Art of Japan Gallery in the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and the restoration of the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park.

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This June 21, join the City of Houston and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs on Make Music Day (MMD), a day of music open to all businesses, parks, and wherever people feel like playing or listening to music. This global event is taking place in over 1,000 cities around the world. Houston joins these events worldwide as communities come together in celebration of music and the countless benefits that making music brings. The celebration reflects each city and features national programs, free performances, neighborhood serenades, patio and park music lessons, jam sessions, and music everywhere.

Kick-off Ceremony Program:

WHEN: Tuesday, June 21, 11 am-11 pm

WHERE: City Hall, 901 Bagby, Houston, Texas, 77002

For a full schedule of citywide events and more information about MMD on June 21st, please visit MakeMusicDay.org/Houston.