THE PROGRAM
Presence in market, coordination at home.
Ultimately, Access Asia runs on three elements: sustained in-country representation in priority Asian markets, active program coordination in Austin, and a steering committee of partner organizations that sets direction. Around those sits an annual calendar of delegations, summits, and matchmaking. The structure is deliberately small, because the work is relationship building rather than event production.
How it is designed to work
A lead surfaced in Asia reaches an Austin partner in one step.
01
In market
In-country representation
Sustained year-round presence promoting Greater Austin, beginning in Taiwan, backed by annual delegations to Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and India.
02
Austin
Active program coordination
Qualifies the opportunity, matches it against partner capabilities, and routes it. The Austin-side function that makes presence in Asia actionable at home.
03
To partners
Direct to your desk
Every program lead goes to partner organizations. Not to a newsletter. Not to the general membership.
It runs both directions. Partner capabilities shape what gets pitched in market, so the organizations funding the program also define what it looks for.
PRIORITY MARKETS
Five markets, chosen for what they are already doing in Texas.
Each market was selected on two tests: a demonstrated pattern of American investment, and an existing GAACC relationship to build on. Depth in a few markets outperforms coverage of many.
01
Taiwan.
Taiwan anchors the semiconductor supply chain that Central Texas is now absorbing, and Pegatron and Compal have already committed in Williamson County. GAACC ran a delegation to Taipei in 2026 timed to COMPUTEX, with meetings across the manufacturing and investment community. Taiwan is the intended first market for sustained in-country representation, which would give Greater Austin a year-round presence there.
02
Korea.
Korean materials and battery firms have been among the most active investors in Central Texas, with Dongjin Semichem and iMarket America building out a cluster in the region. GAACC convenes the Central Texas–Korea Summit, and a delegation to Korea follows in October 2026. The K-Business committee gives the market a standing working group rather than an annual visit.
03
Japan.
Japan committed the largest of the three 2026 investment frameworks, and Japanese firms have a long record of patient, long-horizon American expansion. Japanese advanced manufacturing and mobility companies map closely onto the corridor's existing base. Access Asia builds toward a recurring delegation and a standing set of institutional relationships.
04
India.
India is the fastest growing source of both technology talent and outbound corporate investment among the five markets. Austin's technology sector and Indian firms expanding into North America share obvious ground. Engagement here is earlier stage, focused on relationship building ahead of a formal delegation program.
05
Singapore.
Singapore functions as the decision hub for much of Southeast Asian capital, which makes it disproportionately valuable relative to its size. Enterprise Singapore opened an Austin office in 2026, and GAACC led a delegation to Singapore in June of that year. The relationship gives Access Asia a route into regional headquarters decisions rather than single company moves.
ANNUAL CALENDAR
One year, four quarters, a repeating rhythm.
Q1
Asia by Austin at SXSW.
The program's largest inbound moment, when Asian delegations, investors, and companies come to Austin. Partner organizations meet visiting firms without leaving the city. Read about the summit →
Q2
Spring delegations.
Outbound missions timed to the trade events where decisions get framed, including COMPUTEX in Taipei. In 2026 the spring program covered Taiwan, Vietnam, and Singapore in a single three-week tour.
Q3
Summits and semiconductor season.
The Central Texas–Korea Summit and SEMICON Taiwan fall in this window. This is the quarter where sector-specific relationships get built.
Q4
Autumn delegations and planning.
The Korea delegation runs in late October, followed by steering committee planning for the year ahead. Partners set market priorities and delegation targets for the next cycle.
Asia by Austin during SXSW is the single most important date on the calendar. It is the one week when the markets Access Asia works in come to Austin instead.See the 2026 summit →
TALENT
The same conversation keeps coming up.
Access Asia did not set out to build a talent program. Every completed delegation has run a university or alumni component anyway, from University of Texas alumni gatherings in Seoul, Taipei, and Singapore to meetings with MindX and Fulbright University Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City. Two of those opened pipeline conversations the Chamber is still working.
It recurs because it runs in both directions. Central Texas makes its case as a place to build, and Austin employers gain a route to engineering graduates who already have a reason to look here.
GOVERNANCE
Partners direct the program.
The steering committee.
Representatives from partner organizations set strategic, tactical, and operational direction. The committee decides which markets get priority, which sectors get pursued, and what the delegation calendar looks like. It sets the agenda for the program's first full year.
Working groups.
Market and sector groups form as the program requires, including a K-Business committee and a Taiwan working group. They carry the detailed work between committee meetings. Partners join the groups that match what their organization does.
Coordination and representation
Active program coordination in Austin qualifies opportunities, manages engagement, and routes leads to partner organizations. In-country representation, beginning in Taiwan, would report into the same structure. Both are central to how the program is designed to work.