Already the 10^th largest stand-alone economy in the world, Texas presents big opportunities for both U.S. and overseas investors.

With oil and gas, space exploration and defense and medical hubs in Houston, technology and venture capital hubs in Austin, oil and gas in west Texas and other industry hubs throughout the state.

Texas is a one-stop shop of business opportunities.

On the energy front, with over $115 billion expected in LNG and petrochemical exports over the next 10 years or so, increased revenue in the region will lead to increased opportunities for economic development in Texas.

The Permian Basin in Texas alone is expected to generate an average of 3.9 million barrels per day–roughly a third of total U.S. oil production–contributing to the U.S. becoming one of the world’s largest producers of crude since 1973.

This energy renaissance will only add to the existing economic muscle in the region. The oil and gas industry employs over 400,000 jobs in Texas and paid over $98.9 billion in Texas state and local taxes and royalties from 2007 through 2015. Houston alone is home to over 6,400 companies including 34 Fortune 500 companies and many of the largest reside in the energy space.

However, Texas is not just about energy. The Texas Medical Center is the largest in the world, and its pioneering top research is conducted on various campuses throughout the Houston region. The Houston area also hosts over 250 aerospace-related firms in addition to featuring the Houston Spaceport, one of 10 commercial spaceports in the U.S.

However, Texas and much of the rest of the region shares one very important feature in common with emerging markets – in this community-oriented and family-oriented state, connections with key individuals and families matter.

In the past, in order to do business in Texas, you had to know key families, individuals and companies but now that Texas is becoming more of a global hub every year and with foreign direct investment amounting to $212 billion from 2011-1016 alone, there are now new stakeholders who matter in Texas – especially those affiliated with the international business community.

The Texas economy, with foreign direct investment amounting to $212 billion from 2011-1016 alone, is a global force and continues to welcome a new generation of stakeholders and emerging business leaders especially those affiliated with the international business community.

Sultan Global Group (SGG) knows how to navigate this changing landscape.

Headquartered in Houston but with presence throughout the state and the region, SGG has the right connections with key stakeholders including current and former federal, state and local elected officials, key government agency heads, key political families and family offices, leaders in both political parties, key executive relationships in a multitude of industries, local chambers of commerce, trade associations, foreign consulates, global business councils and other key influencers and stakeholders.

In 2010, he assisted BP with crisis communications during the Deepwater Horizons oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Thompson holds a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Oklahoma and an Executive Certificate in International Business Management from Georgetown University.

Additionally, he studied Intensive Spanish at the Don Quixote School in Barcelona, Spain. Thompson is an accomplished amateur golfer and has competed in the prestigious U.S. Mid-Amateur Championships, as well as several Texas State Amateur and Mid-Amateur championships. He is a board member of the Peace Gospel International; serves as a member of the Houston District Export Council and volunteers for Texans for Lawsuit Reform and Pastors for Texas Children’s advocacy groups.