More than two dozen investors and business owners from Taiwan and Japan got a first-hand look at some of the state’s unique experiences as part of the Best of Texas Bus Tour.

The tour was curated by leaders in economic development across four regions and 15 cities. The five-day experiential tour was run by Frisco-based consultancy Day One Experts in collaboration with Richardson real estate firm TAC Brokerage & Consultant and the Frisco-based Texas Economic Development Connection.

“It takes more than just data and dirt to tell the whole story of Texas’ thriving economy and investment opportunities in a way that resonates deeply with foreign investors,” Day One Experts founder Dave Quinn said in a statement. “When you’re a business owner, ultimately you want to fall in love with a town before you move to the next stage to relocate. You want to know what your Friday night looks like, where your kids are going to school … what life is like. We’re so grateful to our community partners and sponsors for making the tour an unforgettable time for our guests.”

A very Texan itinerary—including key economic spots in DFW

The Best of Texas Bus Tour connected foreign business leaders and investors with what Texas has to offer across several regions of the state. For example, they took turns atop a Texas Longhorn during the stop in the East Texas town of Marshall, as seen atop this story.

The tour also made a stop at NTT Data in Plano to learn how the global leader in IT services is shaping the future of technology and business solutions, Day One Experts said.

Here’s some of what the Best of Texas Bus Tour offered guests:

• Meeting “Big Sam,” the 67-foot statue of Texas hero Sam Houston.
• A boat cruise, local beer, brats, and barbecue, plus photo ops on a longhorn
• Tours of available sites and existing industries, such as Taiwan-based GlobalWafers, Plano-based Toyota Motor North America, Dallas-based Texas Instruments, and NTT DATA, to name a few.
• Receptions from state and local dignitaries—and a full marching band.
• Chuck wagon breakfast along the Red River.
• Happy Hour and bull riding at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth.
• A close look at UT Dallas’ role in workforce strength and CHIP manufacturing growth.

Bolstering thriving trade relationships

Day One Experts said that according to the state office of economic development and tourism, Japan was the state’s fourth-largest trading partner and sixth-largest export destination in 2021. From 2012 to 2022, Japanese companies recorded 119 investment projects in Texas, $6.9 billion in capital investment and 19,620 jobs created by 96 companies, the consultant said. In 2023, Taiwan was ranked the state’s seventh largest trading partner, with trade between the two totaling $21.3 billion. Day One Experts said that Taiwanese companies reported 10 investment projects in Texas over the past decade, which are projected to create nearly $10.5 billion in capital investment and more than 2,500 new jobs.

“The Best of Texas Bus Tour showcased the type of customized, community-level connections Day One Experts are so well-positioned to make for business owners and investors,” Quinn said. “It’s so important to get to know local economic development professionals and local government officials to know what opportunities are available. Creating a strong network of partner communities in the TexasEDConnection allows us to ensure that flow of information for our partners and business clients.”

Day One Experts said it is a collection of the country’s best-known economic development professionals, small business advisers, and their top supporting service vendors who are equipped to help communities and small businesses navigate winning public-private partnerships.

Texas Economic Development Connection is an initiative powered by Day One Experts that’s designed to spark interest in new development, job creation, and expansion into Texas.

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