Above: Mayor Turner meets with the
Mayor of Mexico City Above: Mayor Turner and Greater Houston Partnership Senior VP for Economic Development
Susan Davenport and members of the Houston delegation at a Houston business forum in India
South America:
Chile, Peru, Argentina In addition to strong business and
cultural ties, Houston is well-con-
nected to South America through
direct air service to the region in-
cluding Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile;
and Buenos Aires, Argentina. United
Airlines’ gateway to Latin America is
Houston’s George Bush Interconti-
nental Airport, where United oper-
ates nonstop service to more than
50 destinations throughout Mexico,
Central America, South America and
the Caribbean.
India
Mayor Turner led a trade mission
to India with the Greater Hous-
ton Partnership in November 2018.
Mayor Turner and the Greater Hous-
Mayor Turner had a wide-range of
ton Partnership led a trade and in-
meetings in both New Delhi and
vestment mission to Peru, Chile and
Mumbai, including a meeting with
Argentina in July 2018. The mission
focused on promoting Houston’s ad-
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu.
vantages for investment and trade and
Direct flights were one of the main
enhancing key government and busi-
topics of conversation with India’s
ness relationships between the Hous-
Minister of Tourism K.J. Alsphons.
ton region and the three countries.
“Direct flights would encourage
Targeted business sectors included Following the Mayor’s successful mis- more business activity and tourism
energy, trade and logistics as well as sion to South America, Buenos Aires to and from India and Houston,” said
appointed a representative in Hous-
tourism.
ton to stay abreast of opportunities, Mayor Turner. Senior Vice President
and the American Chamber plans of Tourism of Houston First Jorge
to send a delegation in the spring of Franz noted that tourists from In-
2019 related to healthcare to follow- dia spend more money per capita in
up on opportunities that emerged Houston than any other group from
during the mission. Houstonian and abroad. Parallel meetings featured
Chilean officials will continue the Gabrielle Rowe, chief executive of
discussion began on the mission sur- Station Houston, a startup accelerator
rounding resiliency. The Chilean aiming to transform Houston into a
government has broad experience world-leading hub for technology
handling a range of natural disasters, and innovation and entrepreneurship.
including earthquakes, flooding, and The mission to India included busi-
volcanic eruptions. Chilean officials ness forums in Mumbai and Delhi,
and Mayor Turner signed an MOU where participants heard first-hand
during the visit to continue sharing from Mayor Turner and Vice Presi-
dent of the Greater Houston Part-
best practices.
nership Susan Davenport and other
iF Magazine | www.iFMagazine.net
27