Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings will lead a trade mission this week to Shanghai, China and Seoul, South Korea aimed at promoting economic, tourism, and business opportunities in Dallas-Fort Worth.

“North Texas is a hub of innovation and diversity,” Rawlings said in a release. “As the Dallas-Fort Worth area continues to build its business markets internationally, we look to strengthen the ties we have with our global partners.”

He said the trip, which runs through Friday, is an opportunity to highlight North Texas as an “ideal region for international businesses to grow and develop.” Rawlings is expected to share progress with his GrowSouth initiative and the poverty task force as well as talk about “Leveling the Playing Field for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Cities.”

“North Texas is a hub of innovation and diversity.”
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings

The mission’s delegates include representatives from the Dallas Regional Chamber, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, DFW business leaders, the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, VisitDallas, and the Fort Worth Convention & Visitor’s Bureau. They will meet with government officials and business executives, as well as local leaders.

“I’m excited to demonstrate on the world stage that Dallas is a city not just about economic growth, but economic inclusion,” Rawlings said.

The visit comes just weeks after the Dallas Regional Chamber President and CEO Dale Petroskey signed an agreement with Jae-yul Leeto, the vice governor of South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province, to increase economic cooperation between North Texas and the province and its main city, Suwon.

ECONOMIC NUMBERS AT A GLANCE

31 Chinese-owned companies operating U.S. or North American headquarters and other facilities in DFW. (Examples include AZZ, DerbySoft, Huawei, NGC, and Veri Silicon.)

10.3 percent of Texas’ trade with foreign countries comes from bilateral trade with China.

At $11 billion, China is Texas’ third-largest export market, behind Mexico and Canada. 

At $37 billion, China is Texas’ second-largest import market behind Mexico

19 Korean-owned companies operate significant facilities in DFW. (Examples include Asiana Airlines, Hyundai, KIA, LG, and Samsung.)

At $7 billion, South Korea is Texas’ fifth-largest export market behind Mexico, Canada, China, and Brazil.

At $7 billion, South Korea is Texas’ fourth-largest import market behind Mexico, China, and Canada.

Above numbers were released by the city of Dallas.

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