Texas opening London office to court UK business

Texas is officially taking its economic expansion global. As reported by The Guardian, the Lone Star State is launching a dedicated office in London this month with a clear mission: luring British jobs, investment, and corporate heavyweights to the U.S. south.

For years, Texas has successfully "poached" giants like Tesla, Oracle, and ExxonMobil from states like California and New York. Now, Governor Greg Abbott’s administration is setting its sights on the UK’s financial and manufacturing sectors.

The office is expected to open in the next few weeks.

Why the UK? Why now?

• The "Y'all Street" Surge: With Dallas rapidly becoming a global financial hub, Texas lobbyists are targeting City of London banks and investment houses.
• The TXSE: The upcoming launch of the Texas Stock Exchange is creating buzz for potential dual-listing opportunities for British firms seeking fresh capital.
• The Texas Incentive: Texas is pitching its "zero corporation tax, zero income tax" model, alongside multimillion-dollar subsidies and a new, fast-track business court system.

A Competitive Edge While London faces a trend of firms shifting listings overseas, Texas is leaning into its momentum. The state already holds more Fortune 500 headquarters than any other U.S. state. According to Linda McMahon of the Dallas Economic Development Corp, the interest isn't just limited to the UK—inquiries are currently streaming in from the Netherlands, Ukraine, and South Korea.

The London office will be led by James Taylor (founder of Vianovo) and marks Texas's third major international hub, joining existing offices in Mexico and Taiwan.