City of Laredo Officials Meet With Nuevo Leon Governor
Written by admin, Jun 18, 2010, 0 Comments
Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
City of Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas and City Manager Carlos Villarreal, along with Webb County Judge Danny Valdez, Webb County Administrator Leroy Medford and U.S. Customs & Port Director Gene Garza traveled to Anahuac, Nuevo Leon, Mexico for a morning session of discussions and presentations with Nuevo Leon Governor Rodrigo Medina De La Cruz and City of Anahuac Mayor Santos Javier Garza Garcia, all in an effort to increase the trade partnerships between Laredo and Monterrey, as well as Texas and Nuevo Leon.
“This was a great opportunity to meet with Governor Medina De La Cruz and discuss issues of mutual interest for Laredo, for Monterrey, for Nuevo Leon, and really, the region as a whole,” said Mayor Salinas. “We are always looking for opportunities to promote the city and strengthen and develop our ties with our neighbors to the south,” he added.
Enhancing trade opportunities was the highlight of the discussions; specifically, both sides are hoping to modernize and improve the infrastructure at the border crossing to make it the most efficient, competitive, and secure trade port, increasing commerce and trade in both directions, which would of course, impact the regional economy of the area.
According to Villarreal, it was the commitment by the Mexican leaders to support the efforts of promoting all Laredo ports, including World Trade Bridge and Colombia ports of entry which really made this trip a success. Promotion for these locations will ultimately impact the trade route of Manzanillo, Lazaro-Cárdenas and San Luis Potisí, and of course, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
“They have also agreed to promote our role in the trade missions between Central and South America to Laredo, highlighting not only our location, but also and more importantly, our commitment to enhancing trade through our communities,” Villarreal stated.
Other topics of discussion included security issues and other bi-national issues, such as the City of Laredo’s resolution stating their strong opposition to Arizona’s controversial SB 1070. While in Anahuac, officials also participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the inauguration of the a new power substation and transmission line, that will enhance electricity delivered to the residents of the Anahuac and Colombia region.
“All of our efforts and discussions today are looking to the future, developing prosperity and opportunities for today’s youth on both sides of the border,” concluded Salinas.
