By McAllen Chamber of Commerce

Tour Promotes Soft Landing Business in the U.S.

A group of city officials and entrepreneurs from Mexico were hosted by the McAllen Chamber in an effort to soft land investors in the United States.

A group of professionals from Consejo Empresarial Mexicano de Comercio Exterior and Inversion y Tecnologia from Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, Veracruz, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas visited McAllen for a two-day tour curated by the Chamber’s Economic Development Department. The visit served as an opportunity for networking, collaboration and the exchange of ideas, as both sides sought to strengthen bilateral ties and explore new avenues for economic cooperation.

A memorandum of understanding was signed by COMCE Zacatecas President Liborio Alberto Flores Mendoza and McAllen Chamber President & CEO Josh Mejia. Signing the MOU as witnesses were Tourism Secretary for Zacatecas Le Roy Barragan Ocampo and Mexican Consul Froylan Yescas Cedillo. The new partnership will help McAllen become a preferred landing site for members of COMCE Mexico which make up over 50% of the country’s exports.

UTRGV President Guy Bailey signed a letter of support applauding the efforts of the McAllen Chamber and COMCE, “[UTRGV] look forward to being an active partner in strengthening the global economy and positively influencing the region’s prosperity,” as stated in the document.   

A visit was made to McAllen’s Mexican Consulate Office where the group received valuable information from Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration on guiding elements to consider when exporting goods into the U.S.

The afternoon session included an overview for the City of McAllen tourism from the Convention & Visitors Bureau. UTRGV provided various resources including how the university’s role fosters collaboration with international institutions, partnership opportunities, exchange programs and joint research projects.

UTRGV Center for Entrepreneurship and Commercialization presented support services available through its Global Soft Landing Program which provides mentorship, funding and access to resources for startups and entrepreneurs in the region and beyond.

Mejia and UTRGV Director of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Commercialization Linda Uffland led a roundtable discussion focusing on international business between Mexico & the U.S with leaders from L&F Distributors Val LaMantia, UTRGV Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center David Ortiz, Kumori Restaurants’ entrepreneur Francisco Paz, NIU Urban Living entrepreneur Jesus Gonzalez, Cacheaux Cavazos & Newton LLC Partner Marissa Rodriguez and Burton McCumber & Longoria, LLP Partner Javier Alarcon.

The second day began with a breakfast session at the McAllen International Airport followed by an informational talk from Superintendent of the Anzalduas and Hidalgo International Bridges Juan Olaguibel.

Tourist destinations such as Quinta Mazatlan and the McAllen Performing Arts Center were visited and the role they play in creating economic prosperity was discussed. A separate group visited the city’s industrial sector: McAllen Economic Development Corporation and Foreign Trade Zone, GR Fresh produce wholesaler and South Texas College programs including Advanced Manufacturing, Robotics and Construction.