Readers might recall my note from the Aug. 17 edition where I detailed the ways, large and small, in which Asian countries are putting their inimitable stamp on North Texas, and bringing lots of business with them.
Alas, I neglected to mention India.
Fortunately, we have Brian Womack to remind us this week. His richly-reported dispatch shines light on how Dallas-Fort Worth is turning into a hotbed of South Asian culture — with numerous food and retail establishments taking hold, many of them in booming Collin County.
As one representative from the U.S.-India Chamber of Commerce tells Womack, the blossoming of Indian retailers “might be considered — from an economic standpoint — leading indicators.”
The reasons are hardly surprising, given D-FW is becoming a nexus of skilled labor and Asian culture as the regional economy becomes increasingly reliant on technology. The tech sector, of course, employs lots of workers on H-1B visas, who in turn import comforts from their home country.
Our cover story is a reminder that India is the top country of origin for H-1B workers — with D-FW rounding out the top five metro areas that absorb said folks, according to Pew Research data analyzing 2024 trends. (Fun fact: College Station has the highest concentration of H-1B approvals, Pew found, with 7 per every 100 workers in the area in 2023.)
Curiously, D-FW has more visa workers than Austin, a region that’s long been synonymous with Texas’ tech culture. It’s a primary reason the Trump administration’s new visa policy triggered “absolute panic” in North Texas and beyond, as South Asian students and skilled workers reacted to the change in fees.
And while we were sleeping, a Japan-based company started a new project in the area. Just days ago, Japan-based Kintetsu Group Holdings broke ground on the Miyako Hybrid Hotel, a $117.5 million project in Plano. (As I mentioned in August, Japan and Texas have ties worth $31 billion.)
The Lone Star State’s ties to Asia are good for business, but the flourishing of shops and eateries underscores how much these countries add to the tapestry of the region.