Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez
Photo by Roberto Hugo González
In an exclusive interview with Teclo Garcia, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mission Economic Development Corporation (EDC), we explore the details of the upcoming strategic visit to San Luis Potosi, Mexico. This crucial trip, led by Mayor Norie Gonzalez, aims to fortify economic relations and promote investment opportunities between Mission, Texas, and key industrial clusters in Mexico.
The delegation, departing on Monday, June 10, 2024, will include high-ranking officials from Mission. The primary agenda is to attend the Mexico Auto Nearshoring Conference, scheduled for Thursday and Friday. To support this significant event, the Mission Economic Development Corporation is sponsoring the conference reception on Wednesday night. Given their packed schedule, the team has planned high-level meetings on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with the city of San Luis Potosi’s economic development department and the mayor’s office.
One of the trip’s highlights will be signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the city of San Luis Potosi. These MOUs will formalize commitments to mutual assistance in trade and marketing, regular exchanges of ideas, and collaborative efforts to support each other’s economic growth. Although the specific timing for a state-level meeting is yet to be confirmed, a private session with the state’s Secretary of Economic Development is anticipated.
An investor’s roundtable at Fiesta Americana, involving 20 to 30 business leaders, will be another key event. During this roundtable, Teclo Garcia will present a comprehensive PowerPoint about Mission and the Rio Grande Valley. Side meetings with influential industry groups, including INDEX, COMCE, and clusters from the auto and transportation sectors, are also on the agenda. These engagements aim to highlight the collaborative potential and shared benefits of deeper economic ties.
Promoting the Anzalduas International Bridge stands as the delegation’s top priority. The bridge, which was opened to the public in December 2009, is poised to enhance commercial trade routes. Commercial inspection areas are under construction and are expected to be operational by the end of February 2025. The Mission team aims to position this bridge as a vital alternative to other well-known crossings, such as those in Laredo, Eagle Pass, and Pharr.
Teclo Garcia emphasized the importance of preparing businesses for this new opportunity, stating, “Companies need to find brokers to facilitate the movement of goods through our bridge. We anticipate significant investment and growth around this crossing and are already engaging with interested companies and investors.”
The visit will also underscore the importance of Monterrey to Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, with a focus on the industrial hub of Ramos Arispe outside Saltillo, Coahuila. Additionally, the delegation seeks to attract investments from other economically vibrant regions in Mexico, such as San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, and Leon. San Luis Potosi, in particular, is noted for its rapid industrial growth, with major operations from BMW, GM, Goodyear, Bosch, Honda, Cummins, Honeywell, and many others.
Mission EDC’s commitment to economic development, entrepreneurship, small business support, and innovation aims to drive job creation and prosperity in Mission. This trip to Mexico represents an essential step in expanding these efforts and building robust economic partnerships.
The Mission delegation, under Mayor Norie Gonzalez’s leadership, is set to make significant strides in fostering international cooperation and investment, paving the way for a prosperous future for both Mission, Texas and its Mexican partners.
