By McAllen Chamber of Commerce
McAllen Chamber of Commerce in partnership with The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley will host a delegation from Aguascalientes and Zacatecas, Mexico in an effort to soft land entrepreneurs and investors in the United States.
Close to 50 professionals from Consejo Empresarial Mexicano de Comercio Exterior and Inversion y Tecnologia will visit on April 20-21 with a tour curated by the McAllen Chamber.
The tour aims to aid the transition for potential businesses to start or expand into the US. and navigate past common obstacles that international entrepreneurs and investors encounter.
A memorandum of understanding forming a new partnership between the parties will be signed which will commemorate the first of many official designations McAllen, Texas is seeking to attract foreign direct investment from entrepreneurs from Latin America. The new partnership will help McAllen, Texas become a preferred landing site for members of COMCE Mexico which make up over 50% of the country’s exports.
“This event marks the beginning of a long journey that is destined to strengthen the regional economy by attracting entrepreneurs from our neighboring country as they seek to expand or relocate their business in the U.S.” said McAllen Chamber President & CEO Josh Mejia. “Our soft landing partnership with our friends, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, will help our organization achieve its goal of becoming a leader in entrepreneurship-led economic development for Texas.”
The Soft-Landing initiative is in partnership with UTRGV’s Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center that will see director Linda Ufland to discuss support services. Ufland will present information regarding startups and entrepreneurs in the region, including mentorship, funding and access to resources.
Also presenting from UTRGV will be Workforce Economic Development Associate Vice President Ron Garza, and International Admissions & Student Services Director Samantha Lopez.
There will be a roundtable discussion regarding international business between Mexico and U.S. with various experts including UTRGV Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center South Texas Regional Director David Ortiz, Cacheaux Cavazos & Newton Partner Marissa Sandoval Rodriguez, Burton McCumber & Longoria Partner Lizandro Garcia, L&F Distributors Owner and Managing Partner Val LaMantia and Kumori Restuarants Owner Francisco Paez.
Also scheduled are tours of Anzalduas International and Hidalgo/Reynosa International bridges, McAllen International Airport, La Plaza Mall, Quinta Mazatlan, McAllen Convention Center, Performing Arts, Palms Crossing, McAllen Economic Development Corporation/McAllen Foreign Trade Zone and industrial parks.
