Weslaco courts Mexican industry with binational investment forum and tour

WESLACO — Weslaco pitched itself as a growing Mid-Valley hub for Mexican companies entering the U.S. market during a binational investment forum that brought together leaders from Rio Bravo’s business and government sectors.

The Weslaco Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with Canacintra Río Bravo, hosted the “Weslaco Opens Its Doors: Binational Investment Forum and Tour” to showcase industrial and logistics opportunities in the region. The program included presentations on infrastructure, construction costs, soft-landing support, and legal requirements for companies seeking to expand into the United States.

Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez opened the forum by underscoring the value of strengthening cross-border relationships.

“We are meeting with the people of Río Bravo to explain the opportunities available here in Weslaco,” he said. “We’re growing, and according to the governor of Texas, the population of South Texas will double in the next five to ten years. It’s a great opportunity to start and expand businesses.”

Rising interest from Mexican industry

Steven Valdez, executive director of the Weslaco EDC, delivered the economic outlook and noted increasing interest from Mexican firms.

“Canacintra expressed genuine interest in learning how to invest in Weslaco,” he said. “We have incentives, available land, and competitive prices. Weslaco, located at the center of the Valley, is the best place to grow.”

Valdez said demand has reshaped the city’s industrial park. Originally 146 acres across nearly 25 lots, only 65 acres remain available.

Border logistics and regional infrastructure

Updates on the Progreso International Bridge were provided by Ernesto Silva, manager of Silva Management Solutions, LLC. 

He highlighted the new southbound federal inspection facilities in Nuevo Progreso designed to redirect truck traffic away from the city center.

“A facility was built on the Mexican side for truck inspections, so both crossings and inspections are now outside the urban area of Nuevo Progreso,” he said.

Silva also noted that the bridge — built in the 1950s — moves more than one million pedestrians and half a million vehicles annually, with traffic nearly doubling during the winter.

The bridge also went from having a single commercial lane to a total of three now. 

Support programs and legal guidance

Julio I. Quiroga Cano, specialist in international training and development at UTRGV, presented the university’s soft-landing program, which offers advisory services, business linkage, and operational support for companies establishing a U.S. presence.

Attorney Paola R. Guerrero of Jones, Galligan, Key & Lozano led the session on immigration and business, outlining visa rules, processing times, and compliance requirements for cross-border investors

Developer insights on industrial growth

Developer Jorge De la Garza of ZIWA Corporation discussed the cost and timing variables shaping industrial construction across the Rio Grande Valley.

“It’s very difficult to give an exact cost because it varies greatly across the Valley,” he said. “A 50,000 to 100,000–square-foot project can take between 18 and 24 months. Timing is essential.”

He outlined distinct market conditions in Pharr, McAllen, Brownsville, and the Mid-Valley, noting the influence of recent industrial growth.

Regional logistics leader Joaquín Spamer, CEO of Commodities Integrated Logistics, detailed his company’s long-term expansion in Weslaco.

“Twenty-three years ago, we opened our first warehouse in Weslaco — 110,000 square feet,” he said. “Today we have 890,000 square feet. The city has always been 100% pro-business, solving any issue quickly”.

Spamer, cofounder of RIOPLEX, also stressed the importance of promoting the Valley as a unified economic region.

“You can describe 48 cities and seven municipalities, or you can say RIOPLEX,” he said. “It’s an easy word to remember and promote. We are not taking any city’s name away — we are giving the region an identity that strengthens us”.

Closing tour highlights opportunity

The event ended with an industrial tour and networking session, which Valdez said reinforced Weslaco’s role in the region’s manufacturing and logistics corridor.

“Weslaco is a strategic bridge for investment between Mexico and the United States,” he said. “This event opens the door for more companies to expand, create jobs, and strengthen the manufacturing and logistics corridor.”