HOUSTON, March 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos and members of his staff began a statewide introductory tour in Houston March 24 at the Port of Houston Authority's Bayport Container Terminal.
Cascos serves as the state's 110th Secretary of State. As the new Secretary of State, Cascos was interested in learning more about how the Port of Houston contributes to international trade and the Texas economy and made the Port of Houston his first stop.
"I wanted to start here (Port of Houston) because this is the economic engine of the coast and of the state," Secretary Cascos said.
The Port Authority operates the public terminals at the Port of Houston, which is the nation's largest port in terms of foreign waterborne tonnage. The Port of Houston contributes to the creation of more than one million jobs in Texas, with an economic impact of nearly $179 billion.
Port Commission Chairman Janiece Longoria, along with key Port Authority officials, welcomed the Secretary of State and provided a tour and a briefing.
"We were thrilled to host Secretary Cascos for a briefing and tour of Bayport, to demonstrate the technology, innovation and teamwork that makes our container terminals and other facilities the best and most productive in the nation," Chairman Longoria said.
The briefing Cascos received focused on the port's economic impact and the Port Authority's growth and expansion plans. Opportunities for trade due to expected population growth and the Panama Canal expansion also were discussed.
About the Port of Houston Authority
For more than 100 years, the Port of Houston Authority has owned or operated the public cargo-handling facilities of the Port of Houston – the nation's largest port for foreign waterborne tonnage. The port is an economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the nation. It supports the creation of more than one million statewide jobs and more than 2.1 million nationwide jobs, and the generation of economic activity totaling more than $178.5 billion in Texas and $499 billion across the nation. For more information, visit the Port Authority website at: www.portofhouston.com
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