District 9 Councilwoman to Represent San Antonio on Mission to Taiwan
Published on January 29, 2026
The economic development mission is aimed at strengthening international partnerships and promoting the city.
SAN ANTONIO (March 13, 2026) – District 9 Councilwoman Misty Spears will travel to Taiwan this week as part of San Antonio’s economic development mission aimed at strengthening international partnerships and promoting the city as a destination for investment and innovation.
The Councilwoman will join Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, regional economic development leaders, and partners from across San Antonio for meetings with government and business leaders in Taipei and participation in the 2026 Smart City Summit & Expo, Asia’s largest international smart city event focused on digital and green transformation.
Kaohsiung, Taiwan, San Antonio’s sister city, is co-hosting the Smart City Summit & Expo. The Councilwoman serves as the City Council liaison to Kaohsiung and will participate in meetings there during the mission. The delegation will also briefly visit Tainan City.
The visit will also intersect with a corporate recruitment effort organized by the Greater:SATX Regional Economic Partnership to promote San Antonio to companies considering expansion in the United States.
“The future economy is being shaped right now, and San Antonio should be leading it,” said the Councilwoman. “This mission to Taiwan is an opportunity to strengthen global relationships, showcase the strengths of our city, and position San Antonio to compete in the industries that will define the next generation of economic growth.”
The District 9 Councilwoman also highlighted the recently announced Economic Security Advisory Group, which will focus on positioning San Antonio to compete in sectors including artificial intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology, and space manufacturing.
The Councilwoman said preparing San Antonio’s workforce for the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and advanced technology industries will be critical to the city’s long-term economic competitiveness.
“As Military City USA, San Antonio already has strong foundations in advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and bioscience. With the right strategy and investment, we can build on those strengths and create new opportunities for our community.
“Preparing San Antonio’s workforce for emerging industries, particularly artificial intelligence, has been a key focus of my work in expanding opportunities for AI training and certification so San Antonians can gain the skills needed for the jobs these industries are creating.
“Through the San Antonio AI Certificate and Workforce Acceleration Program we are proposing, we want to create a clear training pathway that connects workforce programs, universities, and employers so residents can build the skills needed to compete in an AI-driven economy. From launching an AI workforce certificate to supporting veteran entrepreneurs through our District 9 Veteran Business Accelerator, we are building real pathways for residents to gain new skills, start businesses, and succeed in a rapidly changing economy.”
“The Taiwan mission will provide an opportunity to learn from global leaders in technology and smart city innovation. The Smart City Summit brings together leaders from around the world who are thinking about digital transformation and the future of urban economies. I am looking forward to bringing those ideas back to San Antonio and continuing the work to prepare our workforce for the economy of the future.”
The mission is being organized in collaboration with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston and the American Institute in Taiwan, and will intersect with corporate recruitment efforts led by the Greater:SATX Regional Economic Partnership.