Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
The Mission Economic Development Corporation (Mission EDC) recently participated in SelectUSA, the largest and most influential conference on foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States. Held in Washington, D.C., the event brought together thousands of companies and investors from more than 100 countries, along with representatives from all 54 U.S. states and territories.
Mission EDC used the platform to conduct business development meetings, gather FDI intelligence, attend workshops, and work the Team Texas booth. According to Mission EDC CEO Teclo Garcia, “it was obvious that Texas was the top draw, and the state most people were talking about.”
SelectUSA is a federal program managed by the U.S. Department of Commerce. It was established in June 2011 to promote and facilitate foreign investment in the United States. Since its inception, SelectUSA has helped generate over $270 billion in verified investments, supporting more than 240,000 U.S. jobs. The annual SelectUSA Investment Summit is the flagship event of the initiative and has become the nation’s highest-profile FDI gathering. In 2025, the Summit hosted over 5,500 attendees.
“Thank you, Governor Greg Abbott, Adriana Cruz, Aaron Demerson & Team Texas for all the hard work to put Texas out front,” said Garcia, praising state-level efforts to promote Texas on the global stage.
Garcia also emphasized the strategic importance of the Rio Grande Valley in attracting international investment. “Now, the follow-up is for those firms interested in Mission and the region. FDI can be transformative, and the RGV is geographically and strategically positioned to leverage that type of investment and expansion.”
Mission EDC continues to build on its mission by offering resources, programs, and initiatives that aim to maximize economic opportunities and support business growth in the region. Its participation in SelectUSA highlights the area’s readiness to compete on a global level.
