The United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce announced recently the formation of the ninth chapter of the Chamber in the U.S., The Woodlands-Gulf Coast Chapter. The announcement was made during a conference at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center and included representatives from the USMCOC, the Greater Houston Partnership and The Woodlands-Gulf Coast chapter of the Chamber.

"Why The Woodlands and why now?" said Al Zapanta, president and CEO of the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce. "You have a base here in The Woodlands. It is business, it is energy, it is banking, it's all the right pieces."

According to the USMCOC, the reach of The Woodlands-Gulf Coast chapter will encompass the U.S. Gulf Coast region, which includes South Texas from Houston, Austin, San Antonio, the Rio Grande Valley to Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.

The goal of the partnership is to link businesses in Mexico with businesses in the United States and, more specifically, businesses in The Woodlands. Dan Leverett, Vice President of Commercial Development for The Woodlands Development Company, said the concept of the partnership is part of the longstanding vision of The Woodlands.

"The Woodlands is accepting to community nationalities working and living in the same community," Leverett said. "We're seeing a huge influx from Mexico of some of the bright and most talented people they have."

Pete Garcia, executive director of The Woodlands-Gulf Coast Chapter, said trade between Mexico and the United States equals to about $1 billion per day and one of the goals of the chapter would be to ensure the community is garnering its "fair share."

He said from January through September trade between the U.S. and Mexico showed "significant increases" with exports to Mexico increasing by 23 percent and exports to the United States increasing by 18 percent. According to the USMCOC, Houston area oil and gas companies could see a substantial benefit as Mexico's internal and external demand for energy increases.

The United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce was established in 1921 with chapters in Los Angeles, New York and Dallas/Fort Worth. Since then, nine chapters have opened in Mexico and six more in the U.S. The Woodlands-Gulf Coast chapter is the ninth.

Zapanta said the role of the Chamber is to make U.S. and Mexican governments accessible to businesses.

"If you're going to business with the Mexican government or the U.S. government, opening the doors is one of the things that we do well," he said.

The Woodlands-Gulf Coast Chapter is located at 10077 Grogan's Mill Road, Ste. 530.