Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez
Mission Mayor Norie Gonzalez Garza called the event “a very important moment for the City of Mission and our partnership with the State of San Luis Potosí,” describing the state as “an exceptional partner.” She said Teclo’s designation “recognizes his leadership and Mission’s growing role in international economic development” while creating “new pathways and long-term regional prosperity.”
Jesús Salvador González Martínez, Secretary of Economic Development for San Luis Potosí, attended on behalf of Governor Ricardo Gallardo Cardona and described Mission as “un socio comercial estratégico de gran relevancia,” or a strategic trading partner of great importance. He said San Luis Potosí has focused on industrial growth, particularly in the automotive sector, noting the presence of BMW and General Motors, along with hundreds of related companies.
“Ninety percent of what is produced in our state is finished product whose final destination is the United States,” González Martínez said, adding that much of the freight crosses by land through the border region. He called the partnership with Texas and Mission “a strategic alliance” that is already producing results.
Reading the official designation, the secretary said Garcia was selected “in recognition of his trajectory, binational commitment, and deep knowledge of the region.” The honorary role will serve as “a strategic link to strengthen economic, commercial, educational, and cultural collaboration” and will be symbolic and unpaid.
Garcia expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying, “I’m deeply honored to be designated the honorary representative of the state of San Luis Potosí.” He added that “there are boundless opportunities for business, and we will continue working to strengthen this relationship.”
Calling the honor a collective achievement, Garcia said, “This recognition truly belongs to a team,” and emphasized a shared goal “to create jobs and attract meaningful investment that benefits our regions and strengthens our economic future.”
The ceremony concluded with an exchange of gifts, reflecting what participants described as an ongoing effort to deepen institutional and economic ties between Mission and San Luis Potosí. Shortly afterward, the mayor, the Mission Economic Development Corporation team, and the San Luis Potosí delegation celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open San Luis Potosí’s permanent and modest office at The Center for Education and Economic Development (CEED), a 55,000 square-foot business incubator operated by the Mission EDC and a collaboration space.
