RioPlex takes South Texas, Northern Tamaulipas investment pitch to Mexico City

A delegation of mayors, economic development officials and business leaders from South Texas and Northern Tamaulipas is heading to Mexico City this week to make a joint pitch for international investment in the binational region.

The delegation is being organized by RioPlex, a regional economic development initiative that markets South Texas and Northern Tamaulipas as one interconnected economy and investment destination. The organization brings together public- and private-sector leaders from both sides of the border to promote the region’s combined assets and attract investment, trade and industry.

RioPlex will hold its two-day FDI Summit: From the Border to the World on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing regional leaders together with representatives from embassies, trade offices, government, businesses and investment organizations.

The idea behind the trip is straightforward: Instead of Brownsville, McAllen, Reynosa and other communities pitching themselves individually, RioPlex wants international investors to look at South Texas and Northern Tamaulipas as a single economic region.

The organization plans to sell the region’s workforce, ports, international bridges, highways, rail connections, industrial capacity, energy infrastructure and universities as a combined package, with advanced manufacturing expected to be a major focus.

“Our region has the people, the infrastructure and the economic capacity to compete at a much higher level,” RioPlex Executive Director Mario Reyna said. “The purpose of going to Mexico City is to put those strengths directly in front of people making international investment decisions and to show them what is already being built here, particularly in advanced manufacturing, where our region has an extraordinary opportunity to grow.”

The delegation includes Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos and Reynosa Mayor Carlos Peña Ortiz, along with Tamaulipas Secretary of Economy Ninfa Cantú Deándar, former Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos and RioPlex Chairman Joaquín Spamer.

Representatives from the Port of Brownsville, Port of Harlingen, SelectUSA, CODEM, Consejo de Negocios Regional and private companies are also expected to participate.

The summit comes as RioPlex looks to build on the cross-border supply chains already connecting businesses and industries in South Texas and Northern Tamaulipas and use those relationships to compete for additional international investment.

RioPlex says the binational region includes seven airports, 13 international bridges and three ports. The organization also lists 89 industrial parks, although its materials note that the industrial park count is still awaiting final confirmation.

The main summit program on Thursday will begin with South Texas College economist Kevin Peek discussing “The New Geography of Investment.” 

Other discussions will focus on integrated regional economies, RioPlex’s investment advantages, the performance of the binational economy, port infrastructure and opportunities for companies looking to invest and expand in Texas.

“Our region is already proof that North American supply chains can work across the border at scale,” Spamer said. “The next step is to build on what is already working, with trust, reliability and long-term partnership, so that more companies can invest, grow and succeed here.”

The summit begins Wednesday with an evening reception at the Hilton Mexico City Reforma. The main program is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday.