Houston keen on investing in India

New Delhi, June 13: Taking another step towards strengthening bilateral relations between Houston and India, delegation of Greater Houston Partnership today gave clear indications of investing in the core sectors including energy, healthcare and tourism.

Business leaders from Houston, Texas are on visit here to explore business development opportunities and to promote trade relations and tourism between the two countries.

While addressing the mediapersons here, Houston Business Development Division Senior Vice President Miguel R San Juan said that enhancing ties between the two like economically-positioned states was in the core agenda of their visit.

Terming India as a major destination to trade with, he said it is the Houston region's top trade partner in South Asia accounting for 65.8 per cent of all air cargo trade and 82.8 per cent of all sea borne trade.

''Indian oil and gas sector being on the primary focus, we have prepared to float tenders to harness large reserves of oil in several parts of the country, specially in Rajasthan'', said Mr Juan adding that talks have been held with state oil and gas major ONGC to rejuvenate the matured oil-fields.

Further deliberating on the future plans, Mr Juan said the delagation aims to improve the air services between the two regions, explore the possibilities of outsourcing business to the Indian Clinical research firms, to promote the diesel fuel additives for a cleaner environment and opportunities in making credit available to small and medium Indian market companies.

''Houston and India share important business and cultural connections and nearly 700 Houston companies trade goods and services with the countries of South Asia and about 30 Houston firms have subsidiaries there,'' said Mr Juan.

Houston Mayor will be arriving here in future to cement ties between the two states, he added.

Houston Business Development Division Executive Director, Jorge Fronz favoured tour and travel associations for the all round development of the tourism sector in the country.

UNI