Israeli companies continue to Go Big in Texas, strengthening the partnership between these two regions.

Examples of Israeli companies operating in Texas include Alon USA Energy, Alon Refining, Elbit Systems of America and NICE. Shared industries between Israel and Texas include aerospace & aviation, energy, financial services, information technology, manufacturing and petrochemical. Cumulative foreign direct investment from January 2011 – December 2023 included 33 projects, with $2,687 million in capital investment and 4,957 jobs created by 27 companies.

In January 2020, Governor Greg Abbott traveled to Israel for an economic development mission with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism and Texas Economic Development Corporation. Governor Abbott’s meetings with Israeli leaders included discussions about the advancement of cyber security, energy, tech and robotics sectors in Texas. Following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Governor Abbott said, “The unwavering bond between Texas and Israel is marked by our shared commitment to freedom and economic opportunity.”

The economic partnership between these two regions continues to thrive, as evidenced by their shared industries and yearly increase in trade numbers.

Texas exports to Israel in 2023 totaled $845 million, including the following commodities: industrial machinery, plastics, electric machinery, aircraft, spacecraft, parts and technical instruments. Texas imports from Israel in 2023 totaled $2,230 million, including the following commodities: aircraft, spacecraft, parts, electric machinery, technical instruments, tools, cutlery and industrial machinery.

Texas port districts that have active trade with Israel include Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, Laredo and Port Arthur. Direct flights to/from Tel Aviv will be offered at Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) beginning in September 2020.

Not only do Israel and Texas share an important trade relationship, but the two also share cultural ties.

For example, the Texas-Israel Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding economic ties between Texas and Israel. The organization cultivates and leverages opportunities that bring shared prosperity to both regions. Furthermore, organizations like Shalom Austin celebrate the Jewish heritage of residents in regions across Texas. Shalom Austin aims to enhance the quality of Jewish life in the greater Austin area through philanthropy, education, social service, culture and spirituality.

The annual Dallas Kosher Chili Cook-Off is a beloved event in the Dallas Jewish community, featuring world-class chili, games, food, music, and information on Jewish life and organizations in the greater Dallas community. The cook-off is a huge annual event that brings the Dallas Jewish community together for a day of fun, food and camaraderie. It is the oldest continuous Kosher Chili Cook-Off event in the world.