July '22 MOTIA Newsletter

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

As the summer draws to a close and the school year begins, so does the busy fall calendar for international affairs. We welcome all the new Consuls General and members of the diplomatic community that have arrived during the summer transfer season, and to all of our global partners as we accelerate the many exchanges, visits, and events we will be undertaking over the next several months. As the fall begins, we are preparing for Houston’s engagement with the Urban20 meetings in Jakarta, the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP) Annual General Meeting in Esbjerg, COP27 in Egypt, and a trade mission to Japan in late October.

Additionally, the Mayor is excited to announce our first Houston-Africa Energy Summit, which will bring together African heads of state, energy ministers, and other leaders with Houston’s energy sector for two days of critical dialogue supporting Africa’s energy future. Finally, we will host the Houston Consular Ball, the City’s premier white tie gala celebrating our diplomatic and international business community. More information on these events is included in this newsletter and will be forthcoming.

Thank you all for what you do for our great global city!

Sincerely,

The Mayor's Office of Trade and International Affairs, in partnership with the Greater Houston Partnership, led Houston’s international trade mission to France from June 27 to July 1, 2022. The mission focused on promoting Houston as a leader in innovation, energy transition, and education while enhancing key government and business relationships between the Houston region and France. France is Houston's sixth-largest European trading partner and the Houston-Galveston Customs District is the fourth busiest gateway for U.S.-French trade. In 2021, trade between Houston and France was valued at $5.5 billion.

Led by Houston Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castex-Tatum, our mission targeted the innovation and business sectors, and included meetings with the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Air Liquide, Schlumberger, and TotalEnergies that further built ties between Houston and France. The delegation toured the campuses of the world's largest startup campus, Station F, Air Liquide's accelerator- Accelair at the Université Paris-Saclay, and Interstellar Lab, an organization developing controlled-environment modules for crop cultivation on Earth and life-support in space. The delegation also met with high-level French government officials including with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vice-Mayor of Nice, and representatives of the U.S. Embassy in France. On behalf of the City of Houston and Mayor Sylvester Turner, we express our sincere gratitude and thanks to the Consulate General of France in Houston and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their generous support and friendship throughout this trade mission. The mission began with a highly informative and meaningful private tour of the prestigious Musée d'Orsay and concluded with a river boat tour along the infamous Seine river.

One of highlights of this trip was the grand opening of Rice University’s Global Paris Center. This was the launch of Rice University's first overseas satellite school and anchored Houston's France trade mission. The festivities for the new campus included a tour of Le Marais, the neighborhood in which the campus is located in a historic 16th-century building that will be home to student programs, independent researchers, and international conferences organized through Rice. In our globalized world, students require education with global engagement and perspective, and the new center will establish a base for which the deepest collaborations in France and across Europe will be built. It will offer a range of opportunities in fields including art and architecture, international business, and global relations and politics. It will also serve as a satellite and hub for European research activity, giving Rice researchers greater access to French and other European partners.

The delegation participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and toured the newly opened campus. Throughout the day, city representatives spoke with pride and excitement for the new campus, looking forward to what it will bring to Rice, Paris, and Houston, including welcoming more international students to the Rice campus in Houston, fostering international travel and programs for students and faculty, and building strong relationships with the best universities across the globe.

Thank you to all of our partners, collaborators, and friends for joining us in upholding the Houston-France partnership!
Learn more: France Trade Mission Media Links | City of Houston Press Release | France Trade Mission Photos

The City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs is in the process of awarding $90,900 in grants to nine individuals and nonprofit organizations focused on promoting cultural tourism and resilience in the city. The funds were awarded through the "City’s Initiative", a competitive grant program that is administered by the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) and funded by a portion of the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax. The program opens four times a year and offers grants in the following three categories: neighborhood cultural destinations, conference tourism, and resilience awareness. In addition to these funding categories, MOCA awards a small number of special community initiatives each year.

“The City’s Initiative program allows local artists and organizations to showcase their work to our residents and visitors,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “I commend the award recipients for their dedication to the arts and cultural vitality of Houston.”

Learn more: City of Houston Press Release

Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston Airport System Director Mario Diaz celebrated Skytrax's recognition of William P. Hobby Airport’s historic certification as the first 5-Star airport in North America. The 5-star nod is the most prestigious rating given by the international air transport rating agency Skytrax and is awarded following a detailed audit analysis and assessment of an airport’s product and front-line service standards. Hobby is one of only sixteen 5-star airports across the globe! It is a remarkable achievement and is a testament to Houston Airport System's unparalleled commitment to providing world-class service to each and every airport guest.

The elite 5-star status was accomplished through the tireless work and dedication of airport staff and partners who work to ensure a first-class experience for all. Hobby Airport has made significant upgrades to enhance the guest experience including terminal décor, restrooms and family facilities, unique and exquisite art and music programs, comfortable seating upgrades, and fabulous scenery that includes well-manicured gardens and landscaping. Additionally, TSA and CBP processing at the airport consistently accomplish fast and efficient waiting times, all factors that led to the 5-star assessment.

In honor of the upcoming Hispanic Heritage Month, The Consulate General of Israel to the Southwest in Houston along with its partners The Ion Houston, Texas Association of Business, and Latinx Startup Alliance presents LatinTech Pitch 2022, a competition for pre-series A high-tech companies with Latino entrepreneurs in Texas. If you are Latino/a tech start-up founder, apply to be one of three (3) winners who will have the chance to bring their start-ups to the next level. Join us in this special competition and event to celebrate your accomplishments as a Latino entrepreneur!
Apply here | Application deadline is Friday, August 19 at 9:00 a.m. CST. This competition is an opportunity to:

Highlight your technology-based startup
Win one of three prizes (up to $30,000 total value)
Qualify for mentorship opportunities
Network with like-minded individuals in the field

In service to Greater Houston as a Global City, the mission of The World Affairs Council of Greater Houston is to promote understanding of the world – its people, politics, economies, and cultures – to enable the Houston community to participate more effectively in the global community. As a member of the World Affairs Councils of America, a national organization with chapters in more than 95 U.S. cities, the Council in Houston has provided programs since 1969 and is currently one of the largest public forums in the region. Now more than ever, it is important that we equip residents of our Global City with the tools to succeed in an interconnected global world, where the actions of one citizen, one community, one nation can impact us all.
Learn more: WAC Programs, Events, and Travel Opportunities

Join Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner as he delivers the 2022 State of the City address to local officials and business leaders, sharing Houston’s preparations for a stronger and brighter future. This signature event, hosted and produced by Houston First Corporation, is an opportunity for community and business leaders to reflect upon the year’s challenges and celebrate the city’s successes as they hear directly from Houston’s CEO.

“We have proven time and again that by working together, Houston can turn obstacles into opportunities. I look forward to sharing updates on City programs and services, the impact of the global pandemic, infrastructure improvements, technology, innovation, health, public-private partnerships, and more.”

-Mayor Sylvester Turner

Learn More

The Consular Ball is not only an occasion to recognize Houston’s position as a leading global city and honor its Consular Corps—the third largest consular corps in the nation—but is also an unparalleled opportunity for businesses to forge new ties and strengthen existing ones with key industries, communities, and government leaders that make up Houston’s thriving international scene. Each year, the City chooses a new theme for the Consular Ball with significance to Houston. This year, on the 70th anniversary of the Consular Ball we are celebrating Houston's City Diplomacy. Houston is a city that is moving forward, and as we rise together we will do so in partnership with our international community.

We cordially invite you and your organization to take part in the celebration as we recognize Houston's diplomatic corps and Houston as one of the world's great global cities on Saturday, 8 October 2022. Contact Mayor’s Office of Trade and International Affairs to learn more about sponsorship opportunities and how you can support this time-honored tradition.

Mayor Sylvester Turner will host the City’s first-ever Houston-Africa Energy Summit brining together African Heads of State, African Ministers, Houston-based energy CEOs, and business leaders from the African continent and the Greater Houston Area. Taking place September 22-23, 2022 the summit will bring together African leaders to meet directly with Houston’s energy companies to promote new businesses, identify economic development opportunities, and discuss challenges for U.S. companies operating in Africa. The summit will create a platform to discuss broad strategies and specific oil and natural gas extraction opportunities, building renewable energy capacity, reducing carbon emissions, and creating innovative power distribution systems in Africa.

“Our city is truly like no other. As the Energy Capital of the World, Houston is uniquely positioned to host the summit and convene a dialogue that will collectively open doors and unlock business opportunities for the United States and Africa in the Energy sector,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner. “I am beyond proud of the meaningful friendship we share with Africa and have made a commitment to increase Houston’s engagement with the continent.”

For more information about the event and sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Mayor’s Office of Trade and International Affairs.

Learn more: City of Houston Press Release