In the past two years, a handful of multinational Spanish companies have expanded their empires into Texas with food company Grupo SOS Cuetara purchasing American Rice, BBVA Bancomer acquiring Laredo National Bank and rice giant Grupo Ebro Puleva snatching up counterpart Houston-based Riviana Foods.

The most recent Spanish acquisition was of Houston construction company Webber Group by Madrid-based Ferrovial in September.

The $220 million investment is Ferrovial's second foray into the state after its subsidiary, Cintra, began to partner with the Texas Department of Transportation in March to design the Trans-Texas Corridor, linking the state's borders with Mexico and Oklahoma.

Trade ties between Texas and Spain also have been on the rise in recent years, totaling $1.2 billion last year, up from $847.5 million in 2003. Most of that business was conducted by Houston companies.

Spanish-owned businesses still number far fewer than those owned by other Hispanics in Houston, but they generate lots of cash. The 661 Spanish-owned firms in Houston, for example, had $5.2 billion in sales in 1997, according to the latest census data available.

In comparison, the greatest number of Hispanic-owned firms are run by Mexicans, who own 25,407 businesses but make just $3.9 billion in sales.

The bond between Texas and Spain has grown so rapidly that earlier this month the Spanish government hosted a trade conference here, and next week the Spanish ambassador will visit the Bayou City to boost business between the two regions. . . .

Based on some of the conversations we’ve had with some of these companies, I believe there’s a surprisingly simple explanation for Spanish companies using Texas a beachhead to the United States, in addition to the understandable attraction of the Hispanic market in the Lone Star state and of Texas in general.

Geography plays a part as well. Relative to other large Hispanic markets like California, Miami, or New York, Texas is a centrally located jumping off point. It’s not the only factor, but it’s important, as simple as it sounds.