The Greater Houston Partnership, in collaboration with Houston First, the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Houston, the Japan America Society of Houston, and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, led a high-impact trade mission to Taiwan and Japan aimed at strengthening global relationships, advancing economic collaboration, and positioning the Houston region as a leading destination for international investment. On this mission, one key objective was to attract secondary and tertiary suppliers to Houston to further establish the region as a growing hub for AI, advanced manufacturing, energy, and life sciences.
Judge Hidalgo’s participation underscored the region’s deep commitment to global engagement and economic diplomacy, reflecting the importance of international relationships to Houston’s continued growth and resilience.
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“Japan and Taiwan are home to leading businesses on the cutting edge of innovation, from Inventec to Foxconn. Those companies have a choice of where they can invest, and I want to ensure that they invest in Harris County if they haven’t already, and grow their investment if they have. Our community has so much going for it: we have the Port of Houston, we’re a center for medical technology in the Texas Medical Center, we have a booming aerospace and petrochemical industry, and we’re leading the clean energy transition. I am proud to be leading a delegation of powerhouse representatives that will drive wins for businesses and for Harris County,” said Judge Lina Hidalgo.
The trade mission began in Taipei, where leaders met with executives from Inventec and Foxconn, two global technology firms that both recently invested in Houston operations, exemplifying Houston’s growing role as a hub for advanced manufacturing and clean technology.
Houston Delegation with Invetec Leaders
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The delegation’s time in Taipei also included meetings with the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs, Cooler Master, and CTBC Bank, all of which highlighted opportunities for collaboration in areas such as advanced manufacturing, finance, and digital infrastructure. The mission also reinforced the strong cultural and academic links between Taipei and Houston, sister cities where innovation and collaboration thrive side by side.
In Tokyo, the delegation held high-level meetings with Vice Governor Akiko Matsumoto of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and executives at JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) and Keidanren Kaikan, as well as top energy and manufacturing leaders.
Two Houston Investment Summits in Tokyo highlighted the region’s strengths in energy transition, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing, and attracted strong interest from Japanese investors and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The delegation also toured Mitsui’s Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City in Chiba, another of Houston’s sister cities, underscoring shared priorities in sustainability, health innovation, and next-generation infrastructure. In addition, the delegation met with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) leadership, including President & CEO of MHI America and Partnership board member, Takajiro Ishikawa, which further reinforced the strong industrial and innovation ties between Houston and Japan.
Throughout the mission, sponsors and delegates from CenterPoint Energy, Cole Chemical, Rice University, and the Yasuhiko & Akemi Saitoh Foundation contributed to dialogues that connected Houston’s academic, industrial, and philanthropic strengths with those of Taiwan and Japan. These engagements reinforced Houston’s position as both a global gateway for Asia-based companies entering the U.S. market and a critical partner for collaboration in energy, innovation, and sustainability.
“Engagement in Taiwan and Japan is essential to Houston’s economic future,” said John Cypher, Vice President of International Investment and Trade at the Greater Houston Partnership. “Trade missions like this one allow us to strengthen relationships with our global partners, attract new investment, and showcase Houston’s leadership in energy transition, innovation, and inclusive economic growth.”
As global dynamics continue to shift, Houston’s proactive international outreach ensures the region remains competitive on the world stage. The trade mission to Taiwan and Japan reaffirmed Houston’s longstanding global partnerships and opened new doors for collaboration, further solidifying the region’s reputation as an area where the industries, cultures, and ideas converge to shape the future of global commerce.
