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IACCGH Small Business Series Luncheon Highlights Export Opportunities and International Trade Tools with Jason Wilson
By Somdatta Basu
The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce played host to a high-powered gathering of entrepreneurs, business leaders, and government officials on May 15, as part of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) Small Business Series. The featured keynote speaker, Jason Wilson, Director of the U.S. Commercial Service in Houston, delivered a compelling presentation on export promotion and how small businesses can tap into global markets with the right support and resources.
The event, co-sponsored by CenterPoint Energy and Wallis Bank, drew a packed house and marked another milestone in IACCGH’s 25-year legacy of empowering the region’s business community. Welcoming the attendees, IACCGH Founding Secretary and Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia offered heartfelt thanks to supporting chambers and media partners. “We are deeply grateful to our community partners and longtime sponsors whose continued support enables us to serve small businesses,” he said. “The Chamber’s goal has always been to hand-hold entrepreneurs through resources, connections, and opportunities.”
Acknowledgments were made to prominent attendees, including Council Member William Ferguson, Susan Whitley, and Jay Guerrero from Senator Cornyn’s office, for gracing the event with their presence.
Jim Rice, Chairman of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce and Principal at Rice & Gardner Consultants, took the stage to deliver welcome remarks. “The Fort Bend Chamber represents over a thousand business organizations and a quarter million jobs,” he noted. “We’re proud to partner with IACCGH and welcome today’s speaker. As Calvin Coolidge once said, ‘The business of America is business.”
Joining him was immediate past chair Kiara Suggs, who emphasized the value of collaboration: “Economic development and small business growth are tied at the hip. The kind of partnership we’re celebrating today is vital for community prosperity.”
Taking the podium, Jason Wilson detailed the role of the U.S. Commercial Service in helping businesses expand into international markets. “Our global network is peerless,” Wilson stated. “With more than 100 domestic and 120 overseas offices, we are here to help U.S. companies export smarter and with more confidence.
Wilson explained that the service offers tailored export counseling and programs such as the Gold Key Service, which identifies and vets potential international partners. “We’ve set up meetings at the ambassador level for clients through this program. It opens doors in ways cold emails or solo trips simply cannot,” he said.
Ahluwalia echoed this endorsement: “The Gold Key Program is my favorite tool in the U.S. Commercial Service toolkit. For less than $2,000, you can get strategic, high-level meetings in foreign markets — and the discounts in five-star hotels alone can cover that cost.”
Wilson also highlighted the Commercial Diplomacy and Advocacy Center arms of his office. “We have had U.S. ambassadors write formal letters in support of our exporters and even had backing from the White House when U.S. firms compete against countries like China in foreign government tenders.”
The session featured real-world examples, including the recent OTC energy expo in Houston, where 433 foreign buyers from 25 countries were connected to local exporters. “In one week, we facilitated 280 matchmaking meetings,” said Wilson. “This is the kind of scale and support we bring to the table.”
Diana Urelius, a member of the Houston District Export Council (DEC), elaborated on their role as volunteers appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to promote trade. “We held a two-day training on export enforcement, hosted nearly 200 attendees, and brought in federal experts — all at a nonprofit cost,” she shared. “Our goal is to equip businesses with the tools they need to navigate international trade.”
Ahluwalia added, “The DEC and the U.S. Commercial Service are hidden gems. When I came to America in 1993, I had to learn everything the hard way. That’s why we founded the IACCGH in 1999 — to make sure others wouldn’t have to.”
The event concluded with audience questions covering service exports, financing challenges, and trade leads from countries like Vietnam. Wilson responded with a commitment to follow up directly, emphasizing the importance of personalized support.
A moment of warmth and recognition closed the program as Wilson was presented with a keepsake elephant statue by the Chamber. “This isn’t my first elephant,” Wilson quipped, smiling, “but it’s the nicest one I’ve received!”
In his closing remarks, Wilson reflected, “The return on every dollar invested in the U.S. Commercial Service is $460 to the U.S. economy. That’s the value we bring. Please reach out. We are here to serve.”
For entrepreneurs ready to take their business global, the luncheon offered not just knowledge, but a direct line to a network that can make it happen.
Photo Credit: Bijay Dixit