Investors from India eye the RGV

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – In the real estate business, location, location and location is the name of the game.

But in the business/industrial world, it could be wages, cost of living, transportation, a skilled workforce and cross border relations.

That’s at least along the U.S.-Mexican border where business between the two nations is part of the everyday life.

And for a trio of Indian business men and women, this region of the country could be their new frontier.

The three were exposed to the economic and cultural ties during a fact-finding mission aimed at finding customers for the thousands of companies they represent.

“Our primary goal is to help companies land in the United States,” Jyothsna Kondapuli, told a group of entrepreneurs and business development representatives from Brownsville, Harlingen and Matamoros. “We know manpower in the United States is very expensive but we offer an array of services to our customers.”

Among them, she mentioned market access, regulatory support, conditional green cards and alliance with many U.S. universities.

Interviewed during a brief break during a pitch presentation in the boardroom of the Brownsville Navigation District held Thursday, May 30, Kondapuli said they represent tens of thousands of potential investors from India and Singapore interested in doing business abroad. The event was organized by the Council for South Texas Economic Progress (COSTEP).

The company Kondapuli represents, Startup Runaway, opened in Frisco, Texas, about a year ago because the Lone Star State and its border areas are increasingly becoming attractive places to invest.

Since then, 20 companies are either doing business or in the process of relocating in Texas.

Kondapuli, along with Dr. Silva Mahesh Tangutooru and J.A. Chowdary, both with India and International Startup Foundation, heard several presentations about the three cities interested in bringing foreign  investors – Brownsville, Harlingen and Matamoros.

That included the industries and the parks located on both sides of the Rio Grande, its demographic, cost of living, employment, the largest companies established such as the twin or maquiladora plants and transportation modes.

Both Chowdary and Tangutooru said they were impressed with what they heard, particularly over how the two areas are interconnected.

“I like their holistic approach in doing business,” Tangutooru said afterwards. “The area has great manpower and the incentives available are great, not just from the U.S. but from the Mexican side as well.”

Kondapuli said they were scheduled to hold another meeting in McAllen later in the afternoon and in Austin, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth area later on.

The trio expressed surprise to learn about the connections between South Texas and other parts of the world – except with India.

“That’s coming up,” remarked Adam Gonzalez, COSTEP’s chief executive officer.

Gonzalez visited India earlier this year as part of a trade delegation led by Gov. Greg Abbott.

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