Driving International Investment in Harris County

Judge Hidalgo and members of the delegation meet with international business leaders at the Keidanren Investment Summit in Japan.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo recently led a high-impact trade mission to Taiwan and Japan to promote Harris County as a global hub for innovation, advanced manufacturing, and economic opportunity. Judge Hidalgo led a delegation of business leaders alongside the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP), Houston First, the Taipei Economic & Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston, and the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) on the trade mission.

Throughout the mission, the delegation met with government officials and international businesses considering expanding their presence in the United States to build new partnerships that will attract foreign investment to Harris County for years to come. The delegation’s meetings with companies like Foxconn, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Inventec and more will help position Harris County as a global partner ready to drive innovation across the globe.

Keep reading to learn more about what Judge Hidalgo and the delegation accomplished during the trade mission!

Supporting Wildlife Conservation Through Art at the Taipei Zoo

Judge Hidalgo and Houston graffiti artist GONZO247 join Taiwanese community leaders at the unveiling of a mural celebrating the 64th anniversary of the Houston-Taipei Sister City relationship and the Taipei Zoo’s 111th anniversary in Taiwan.

Judge Hidalgo celebrated art, friendship, and wildlife conservation across continents at the unveiling of a new mural at the Taipei Zoo. The mural, painted as part of a series by Harris County’s very own GONZO247 and Taiwanese artist Bounce, represents the Taipei Zoo’s 111th anniversary and the 64th anniversary of the Houston-Taipei Sister City relationship. GONZO247 and Bounce collaborated on a similar mural unveiled at the Houston Zoo earlier this year.

The mural features a bongo antelope, which is a critically endangered species. The Houston Zoo will soon send a bongo antelope (appropriately named Harris) to the Taipei Zoo, where he will help support the survival of his species. Judge Hidalgo was proud to celebrate the Houston and Taipei Zoos’ strong cultural ties and efforts to support wildlife conservation across the globe.

Creating More Advanced Manufacturing Jobs in Harris County

Judge Hidalgo and the trade mission delegation meet with Inventec, a leading global technology company, in Taiwan.

Judge Hidalgo and the business delegation met with Inventec, a global technology leader shaping the future of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and advanced manufacturing. Inventec recently announced plans to develop a massive new AI and electronics manufacturing plant in Katy. This major investment will create over 2,300 jobs and help expand Harris County’s rapidly growing advanced manufacturing corridor.

Partnering with Local Governments to Drive Economic Development

Judge Hidalgo presents a Harris County challenge coin to Taiwan Vice Minister of Economic Affairs, Dr. Chien-Hsin Lai.

Judge Hidalgo and the delegation met with Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to highlight the incentives for Taiwanese businesses investing in Houston and Harris County. Judge Hidalgo offered support for businesses on a government level, particularly companies investing in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, clean energy, and workforce development. While in Japan, Judge Hidalgo also met with the Vice Governor of Tokyo, Matsumoto Akiko, to exchange ideas and build partnerships on the local level.

Building Relationships with Companies Driving the Future

Cooler Master, a leading Taiwanese company, leads a demonstration of new technology with Judge Hidalgo and the delegation.

Cooler Master is a Taiwanese hardware manufacturer known for its innovation in computer components and AI data center cooling solutions used by major global companies. Judge Hidalgo and the delegation met with Cooler Master’s leadership to talk about Harris County’s growing role as a hub for advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, and creative technology. The company continues to innovate and is exploring opportunities to expand its operations.

Celebrating A Shared Commitment to Innovation

From left to right: GHP Vice President John Cypher, Taiwanese Congressman Wei-Hsiang Liao, Friendswood Mayor and former astronaut Mike Foreman, Houston First Senior Vice President Jorge Franz, and Judge Hidalgo celebrate Taipei and Houston’s sister city relationship at the “Mission to Houston” event in Taiwan.

Harris County and Taiwan share an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to innovation that creates endless potential. Judge Hidalgo and the delegation celebrated Houston and Taiwan’s shared values at the “Mission to Houston” event in Taiwan hosted by Houston First. The event hosted Taiwanese business leaders and companies to promote Harris County as a strong travel destination and vibrant community for tourism.

Positioning Harris County as a Leading U.S. Tech Hub

Judge Hidalgo and the delegation meet with Foxconn, which recently announced a $225M investment in AI manufacturing in the Houston/Harris County region.

Foxconn, one of the largest employers in the world and a leading electronics manufacturer for companies such as Apple, Nvidia, Dell, and Amazon, has a strong and growing presence in Harris County, with more than 2,000 employees across 11 facilities. The company recently announced plans to expand its Houston presence with a $225M capital investment in creating a new AI manufacturing plant. That project is expected to create at least 300 additional jobs and help Harris County build the workforce of the future.

Fostering Cultural Exchanges

From left to right: Mr. Yasuhiko Saitoh, Judge Hidalgo, delegate and Port of Houston Commissioner Roland Garcia, Mrs. Akemi Saitoh, and delegate Karen Garcia enjoy a welcome dinner in Japan hosted by the Saitoh family.

As Japanese immigrants and longtime supporters of philanthropy in Harris County, Yasuhiko and Akemi Saitoh have long played an important role in building bridges between the Japanese and Houston communities. The Saitoh family brought together government leaders from Chiba City and business leaders, including representatives from major international companies like ZIPAIRand Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, to invite continued partnership between Japan and Harris County.

Learning from Innovative Businesses Across the Globe

Judge Hidalgo and delegate Donna Cole, founder and CEO of Cole Chemical, tour Mitsui’s Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City in Japan.

In Japan, Judge Hidalgo and the delegation toured Mitsui’s Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City, a large-scale urban development project located in Chiba Prefecture. Kashiwa-no-ha is a ‘smart city’ that leverages public, private and academia partnerships to combine urban planning and advanced infrastructure. The visit showcased Mitsui’s innovative approach to integrating green infrastructure, smart technology, and community-focused design to create a more sustainable urban future. Judge Hidalgo and the delegates talked with Mitsui representatives about what lessons they can bring back to Harris County and Mitsui’s innovative partnership with the Texas Medical Center.

Advancing Clean Energy and Manufacturing Partnerships

Judge Hidalgo and the delegation meet with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which has its North American headquarters in Houston.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is one of Japan’s largest and most diversified industrial companies. Since relocating its U.S. headquarters to Houston in 2016, Mitsubishi has created more than 1,200 jobs in Harris County. Judge Hidalgo and the delegation sat down with Mitsubishi to discuss future opportunities for partnership in the clean energy industry for both Harris County and Japan.

Networking with International Business Leaders at Keidanren and JETRO

Judge Hidalgo pitches Harris County as a great place to do business at an investment summit hosted by Keidanren, Japan’s most influential business federation.

At investment summits in Tokyo hosted by Keidanren and the Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO), Judge Hidalgo and the delegates highlighted Harris County as a global hub for investment, innovation, and industry growth. Keidanren is Japan’s most influential business organization representing more than 1,500 leading companies, and JETRO plays a key role in helping Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises expand worldwide. Both organizations are looking to expand their presence in Harris County and Texas. Judge Hidalgo emphasized the county’s strengths in energy, advanced manufacturing, and technology and underscored its readiness to welcome and support international investment.