Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas — Following her appointment as Border Commerce Coordinator by Governor Greg Abbott on January 5th, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson today convened the first Border Trade Advisory Committee (BTAC) meeting of 2023 in coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). BTAC is composed of public and private sector stakeholders from throughout the Texas-Mexico border region who work collaboratively to advance solutions to cross-border infrastructure challenges in order to facilitate safe, secure and efficient international commerce connecting people and goods to Texas and beyond.
During today’s meeting, which was held in a hybrid format at TxDOT headquarters due to inclement weather, Secretary Nelson was provided with updates from TxDOT staff on the implementation of of the Border Transportation Master Plan (BTMP), including the ongoing Texas-Mexico Border Region Connectivity Study examining potential improvements and enhanced efficiencies at commercial border crossings.
Secretary Nelson also heard presentations from Nuevo Leon’s Secretary of Regional Development, Dr. Marco Gonzalez, as well as Tamaulipas’ Secretary of Economic Development, Ninfa Cantu. Both key officials provided updates to the Committee regarding ongoing transportation infrastructure projects in their respective states that impact cross-border commerce with Texas. Mexico’s Consul General in Austin, Pablo Marentes, and Canada’s Consul General in Dallas, Susan Harper, also joined today’s BTAC meeting.
“There’s perhaps no topic more important to the future of the Texas economy – and the North American economy – than making sure we have efficient trade and quality infrastructure along the Texas-Mexico border,” Secretary Nelson said.
“I want to thank all of our friends joining us from Mexico and Canada today for their partnership with the State of Texas. It is a recognition of the shared economic destiny we have, and I believe we have more reasons to be optimistic about that destiny than ever before.”
