FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2015

 

Event Connects Texas Businesses With World’s Largest Economic Zone

AUSTIN—The 4th annual Texas-EU Business summit, one of the most important events promoting business and investment between Texas and the nations of the European Union (EU), will occur in Austin on April 22-23, sponsors and organizers announced today.

Larry Tabash, Senior International Trade Specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce, said Texas businesses should start developing relationships that will open the doors to partnerships, trade and investment opportunities. He urges central Texas companies to attend the Texas-EU Summit for business opportunities between Texas and Europe. “The EU and its 28 member nations have 500 million consumers and make up the world’s largest economy, with $17 trillion worth of economic activity every year, it’s a huge opportunity,” Tabash said.

The summit is funded through the European Union Delegation to the United States through the EU Center of Excellence at the University of Texas and the World Affairs Councils of America. It brings trade promotion experts and businesspeople from EU nations to Austin for panels and meetings with the Texas business community. It offers a unique face-to-face opportunity for businesses to make connections and learn about inbound and outbound business opportunities with Europe.

Europe is already a major trading and investment partner for Texas.

 The 28 nations of the EU represent a combined economy of $17.5 trillion (compared with $16.8 trillion for the United States and $9.2 billion for China) and a market of more than half a billion people.

 Texas is America’s biggest exporter to Europe ($37.6 billion, up 41% from 2010).

 Texas’ largest exporting sectors to Europe are petroleum and coal products, chemicals, computer and electronic products and machinery.

 The Netherlands, UK and France are the leading sources of Foreign Direct Investment in Texas.

Highlights of Day One of the summit will include a forum on transatlantic business opportunities in cyber security, sessions on best practices in accessing the EU market and highlighting the opportunities offered by the dynamic emerging economies of southeast Europe. Day Two focuses on IT opportunities, highlighting Portugal and Texas.

Cosponsors of the event include the City of Austin, U.S. Department of Commerce, Austin Community College, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Greater San Marcos Partnership, the IC2 Institute at the University of Texas at Austin, Kozmetsky Center for Excellence in International Finance at St. Edwards University and various European-American chambers of commerce.

For more information, visit the summit website: TexasEUSummit.org

Contact:  Jonathan Black
(512) 466-0805
jblack@wacaustin.org