Back due to continuing demand, the Scottish American Business Alliance, SABA, finished their 2nd annual visit to the UK on 28th June after a week long run of meetings and one to one sessions with business leaders, Civic officials, notably from Aberdeen City and Shire and Fergus Ewing – MSP for Business Energy and Tourism.
The delegation was led by SABA founder members Gus Bourgeois, corporate attorney at BoyarMillar, and Lisa Morton, who represents the Accounting firm of Alonzo, Bacarisse, Irvine & Palmer (ABIP, PC). They were accompanied by Sang Shin and Johnathan Meyer, immigration attorneys with Foster, LLP.
SABA, which was established to guide companies wishing to internationalize or grow their overseas business via Houston, either through establishing new offices or acquisition, reached out to companies in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. Off the back of a turbulent year in the oil and gas sector, the delegation found that demand was still high, if a little more cautious than previously experienced.
Lisa Morton stated that business was still very much committed towards growth in the Texan oil capital and there was much to gain: “The Houston region is an undisputed global leader in international business, its geographical location making it an easily-accessed portal to virtually the entire the global marketplace. From the Port of Houston to the Houston Airport System, to a host of international entities doing business around the clock, Houston is where you want to be if your business is looking to go global. We don’t see that changing soon”.
According to Gus Bourgeois, current market conditions are unlocking new potential: “Companies that have proprietary tools or processes that can increase efficiency or cut costs will be in high demand, as oil & gas companies seek to drive costs down. Recent layoffs have eased a tight labour market in Houston, with the result that a greater number of highly experienced employees may now be available for employment to new market entrants. Now more than ever is an excellent time to enter the US”.
The visit was concluded with a Scottish Texan showcase dinner at Norwood Hall Hotel in Pitfodels, attended by the incoming Houston Consul General Karen Bell.
Issued on behalf of Scottish American Business Alliance by Granite PR Ltd. For further information visit http://www.sabahouston.com