NAI Rio Grande Valley's own Mike Blum weighs in on the importance of border infrastructure and why it is crucial to the growth of McAllen/Reynosa
McAllen Economic Development Corporation
Building up the infrastructure between the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and Northern Mexico has long been a goal for citizens and public officials. Even with the recent opening of the Anazalduas International Bridge, the fastest growing area on the U.S.-Mexico border faces challenges, in part to the burgeoning population.
Mike Blum, former city planner for the City of McAllen and current partner and managing broker for NAI Rio Grande Valley offered his insight and opinion on “Building Up Border Infrastructure.”
Click here to hear the full report from the Ron Whitlock Reports show.
Showing posts with label Reynosa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reynosa. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Reynosa, McAllen celebrate new link
Reynosa, McAllen celebrate new link
By Lynn Brezosky
Express-News REYNOSA, Mexico —
The first new Southern border crossing to open in a decade was inaugurated Monday with plenty of pomp and a few polite laments about a process that dragged on nearly 18 years.
The 3.2-mile Anzaldúas International Bridge, crossing rural fields and the Rio Grande, is the second bridge to connect the Reynosa and McAllen areas. The new route promises to open the western end of the Rio Grande Valley to one of Mexico's busiest factory hubs, bypassing downtown Reynosa to cut travel time to the Mexican industrial city of Monterrey by half an hour.
Mexican President Felipe Calderón made a dramatic helicopter arrival on the Mexican side, joining U.S. trade representative Ron Kirk in a coordinated march of U.S. and Mexican officials toward a dais of dignitaries atop the span. At least 1,000 people attended.
“This bridge is more than a link between Mexico and America, between north and south. It is also a potent symbol of our connectiveness,” Kirk said. “You all knew that a new crossing would bring benefits to this entire region, and those benefits begin today.”
Calderón said the bridge was part of a new future for Mexico's northern border and for all of the country.
“It signifies jobs,” he said. “It signifies competitiveness.”
Planning for the bridge started in 1992. President Bill Clinton signed a presidential permit in 1999, an exchange of diplomatic notes came in 2001 and ground was broken in 2007, with the two sides contributing about $100 million for land acquisition and construction costs.
The bridge opened to pedestrians and small vehicle traffic Dec. 15 but does not yet have the permits needed for commercial traffic.
Juan Molinar Horcasitas, a Mexican trade official, said the bridge's “green” construction — it is largely made of recycled materials — made it “not just a bridge between two nations but between the past and the future.”
Along with the addition and expansion of other border crossings, he said, Anzaldúas will help establish Mexico as the “logistical platform” for North America.
It is a long crossing, running past a flood control levee that functions as a border barrier in Hidalgo County and over a no man's land of flood plain along the ribbon of the Rio Grande. South of the river comes another mile or so of rural Mexican dwellings, grazing goats and finally Mexican customs officials.
Officials on both sides say the need for new ports of entry on the border is clear. One million vehicles — and commerce amounting to $1 billion — cross it each day. Mexico is the No. 1 trade partner of 22 states of the union. Some 60 percent of Mexican exports enter the U.S. through the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which fronts the Texas border from Brownsville to the eastern end of Laredo.
Border cities fight intensely to be the site of new international bridges in hopes of landing stopover business, factories, and a housing market for managers and workers. The last new crossing to open was in Laredo in 2000.
“It takes us 18 years on average between when both governments agree on something and we reach this stage,” Tamaulipas Gov. Eugenio Flores said.
“We need a new procedure, a more adequate standard, a shorter time of formalities.”
Link to Article
By Lynn Brezosky
Express-News REYNOSA, Mexico —
The first new Southern border crossing to open in a decade was inaugurated Monday with plenty of pomp and a few polite laments about a process that dragged on nearly 18 years.
The 3.2-mile Anzaldúas International Bridge, crossing rural fields and the Rio Grande, is the second bridge to connect the Reynosa and McAllen areas. The new route promises to open the western end of the Rio Grande Valley to one of Mexico's busiest factory hubs, bypassing downtown Reynosa to cut travel time to the Mexican industrial city of Monterrey by half an hour.
Mexican President Felipe Calderón made a dramatic helicopter arrival on the Mexican side, joining U.S. trade representative Ron Kirk in a coordinated march of U.S. and Mexican officials toward a dais of dignitaries atop the span. At least 1,000 people attended.
“This bridge is more than a link between Mexico and America, between north and south. It is also a potent symbol of our connectiveness,” Kirk said. “You all knew that a new crossing would bring benefits to this entire region, and those benefits begin today.”
Calderón said the bridge was part of a new future for Mexico's northern border and for all of the country.
“It signifies jobs,” he said. “It signifies competitiveness.”
Planning for the bridge started in 1992. President Bill Clinton signed a presidential permit in 1999, an exchange of diplomatic notes came in 2001 and ground was broken in 2007, with the two sides contributing about $100 million for land acquisition and construction costs.
The bridge opened to pedestrians and small vehicle traffic Dec. 15 but does not yet have the permits needed for commercial traffic.
Juan Molinar Horcasitas, a Mexican trade official, said the bridge's “green” construction — it is largely made of recycled materials — made it “not just a bridge between two nations but between the past and the future.”
Along with the addition and expansion of other border crossings, he said, Anzaldúas will help establish Mexico as the “logistical platform” for North America.
It is a long crossing, running past a flood control levee that functions as a border barrier in Hidalgo County and over a no man's land of flood plain along the ribbon of the Rio Grande. South of the river comes another mile or so of rural Mexican dwellings, grazing goats and finally Mexican customs officials.
Officials on both sides say the need for new ports of entry on the border is clear. One million vehicles — and commerce amounting to $1 billion — cross it each day. Mexico is the No. 1 trade partner of 22 states of the union. Some 60 percent of Mexican exports enter the U.S. through the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, which fronts the Texas border from Brownsville to the eastern end of Laredo.
Border cities fight intensely to be the site of new international bridges in hopes of landing stopover business, factories, and a housing market for managers and workers. The last new crossing to open was in Laredo in 2000.
“It takes us 18 years on average between when both governments agree on something and we reach this stage,” Tamaulipas Gov. Eugenio Flores said.
“We need a new procedure, a more adequate standard, a shorter time of formalities.”
Link to Article
Friday, November 13, 2009
Chinese company to launch maquiladora in Reynosa
Chinese company to launch maquiladora in Reynosa
REYNOSA — HCP Packaging, a global supplier of custom cases for some of the world’s top cosmetic companies, will launch a new maquiladora early next year, the company said recently.
HCP Packaging USA Inc. — a subsidiary of the China-based parent company — expects to open the 60,000-square-foot facility at the Villa Florida Industrial Park in early 2010, adding 130 jobs to Reynosa.
Officials from the company, which supplies cases for lipstick and eye shadow and other cosmetics for Maybelline and L’Oreal among other companies, could not be reached for comment Thursday. A woman at the company’s New Hampshire office said Steve Levine, president and chief executive officer, was in China.
Ralph Garcia, vice president for business recruitment at the McAllen Economic Development Corp., said HCP is shifting production to save on labor costs and be closer to customers. The close proximity to the U.S. will allow the company to keep inventory levels low and costs down.
“One of the primary reasons (for the move) is that some of the management staff had previous experience here in Reynosa and had liked the area,” Garcia said.
With next year’s expansion, HCP will be among a number of manufacturers that have shifted production to Reynosa in recent months. Amid a global downturn in manufacturing, the city’s maquila industry has proven attractive for companies from the United States and within Mexico because of its proximity to the U.S. market.
Kohler Co. is in the process of closing an Arkansas plant to fold the production of stainless steel sinks into its maquila. Steelcase, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based office furniture manufacturer, is expected to open a new factory in early 2010.
South Korea’s LG Electronics said in July that it was creating 1,200 jobs by shifting production of electronics from a plant across the border from California, to its Reynosa facility.
Late last year, the global economic downturn assailed Reynosa’s maquilas, contributing to a 5.3 percent rise in unemployment. Since then, analysts have said the job loss has slowed, and some expect the border town’s manufacturers to begin recovering by 2010.
REYNOSA — HCP Packaging, a global supplier of custom cases for some of the world’s top cosmetic companies, will launch a new maquiladora early next year, the company said recently.
HCP Packaging USA Inc. — a subsidiary of the China-based parent company — expects to open the 60,000-square-foot facility at the Villa Florida Industrial Park in early 2010, adding 130 jobs to Reynosa.
Officials from the company, which supplies cases for lipstick and eye shadow and other cosmetics for Maybelline and L’Oreal among other companies, could not be reached for comment Thursday. A woman at the company’s New Hampshire office said Steve Levine, president and chief executive officer, was in China.
Ralph Garcia, vice president for business recruitment at the McAllen Economic Development Corp., said HCP is shifting production to save on labor costs and be closer to customers. The close proximity to the U.S. will allow the company to keep inventory levels low and costs down.
“One of the primary reasons (for the move) is that some of the management staff had previous experience here in Reynosa and had liked the area,” Garcia said.
With next year’s expansion, HCP will be among a number of manufacturers that have shifted production to Reynosa in recent months. Amid a global downturn in manufacturing, the city’s maquila industry has proven attractive for companies from the United States and within Mexico because of its proximity to the U.S. market.
Kohler Co. is in the process of closing an Arkansas plant to fold the production of stainless steel sinks into its maquila. Steelcase, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based office furniture manufacturer, is expected to open a new factory in early 2010.
South Korea’s LG Electronics said in July that it was creating 1,200 jobs by shifting production of electronics from a plant across the border from California, to its Reynosa facility.
Late last year, the global economic downturn assailed Reynosa’s maquilas, contributing to a 5.3 percent rise in unemployment. Since then, analysts have said the job loss has slowed, and some expect the border town’s manufacturers to begin recovering by 2010.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
“Reynosa / McAllen, Union para el desarrollo fronterizo” – Strategic Alliance for Border Economic Development
“Reynosa / McAllen, Union para el desarrollo fronterizo” – Strategic Alliance for Border Economic Development
(Free-Press-Release.com)
By: Cesar Sanchez
American Industries Group
November 10, 2009 --
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
United States of America. October 26th, 2009 – On October 20th, the economic promotion event "Reynosa / McAllen – Strategic Alliance for Border Economic Development" took place at the Camino Real Valle Oriente Hotel in Monterrey, NL with the special attendance of Consulates represented in the city of Monterrey, as well as Industrial companies and Chambers of Industry. The main objective of the event was to show the competitive advantages, business and investment opportunities in the Region of Reynosa / McAllen.
The event counted with the special participation of the City Mayor of McAllen, Mr. Ricardo Cortez, and his guests, Mr. David Guerra and Mr. Manuel Muniz, both representing the IBC bank, Mr. George Ramon, manager of the International Bridge Hidalgo-McAllen, and Mr. Joseph Olmeda, general manager of BSN Medical.
Diplomatic presence from consuls of countries such as Canada, Australia, Spain, USA, France, Honduras, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom, among others, concurred with the benefits of establishing international operations in the Reynosa / McAllen region. The Industrial Chambers who attended this event were: Consejo Mexicano de Comercio Exterior, Sociedad Mexicana de Aguas, Customs Brokers Association, Colter Carswell & Associates, among others, and some companies from Monterrey interested in investing in the Mexico-US border region.
This event was organized and sponsored by the “Secretaria de Desarrollo Economico de Reynosa, Tamaulipas” (SEDEEM), the Economic Development Corporation of McAllen, Texas (MEDC), and also some Industrial developers established in Reynosa such as American Industries, GGP, “Grupo Sara” and “Grupo Stiva”. The event was a complete success and at the end some representants of European countries who attended the event announced to Armando Zertuche (Secretary of the "Secretaria de Desarrollo Economico y del Empleo de Reynosa"), their interest of visiting the Region of Reynosa / McAllen.
About American Industries Group:
American Industries Group is Mexico’s leading manufacturing facilitator with over 30 years of successfully landing manufacturing projects in Mexico from over 100 global corporations. For more information visit our company’s website: www.AmericanIndustriesGroup.com or contact us at + 52 (899) 951-8300
Press Contact:
Cesar Sanchez
American Industries Group
12120 Esther Lama Dr. S-100. El Paso
Texas 79936
Ph ( 915 )-860-0401
business.opportunities@reynosa-mcallendevelopment.com
(Free-Press-Release.com)
By: Cesar Sanchez
American Industries Group
November 10, 2009 --
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
United States of America. October 26th, 2009 – On October 20th, the economic promotion event "Reynosa / McAllen – Strategic Alliance for Border Economic Development" took place at the Camino Real Valle Oriente Hotel in Monterrey, NL with the special attendance of Consulates represented in the city of Monterrey, as well as Industrial companies and Chambers of Industry. The main objective of the event was to show the competitive advantages, business and investment opportunities in the Region of Reynosa / McAllen.
The event counted with the special participation of the City Mayor of McAllen, Mr. Ricardo Cortez, and his guests, Mr. David Guerra and Mr. Manuel Muniz, both representing the IBC bank, Mr. George Ramon, manager of the International Bridge Hidalgo-McAllen, and Mr. Joseph Olmeda, general manager of BSN Medical.
Diplomatic presence from consuls of countries such as Canada, Australia, Spain, USA, France, Honduras, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom, among others, concurred with the benefits of establishing international operations in the Reynosa / McAllen region. The Industrial Chambers who attended this event were: Consejo Mexicano de Comercio Exterior, Sociedad Mexicana de Aguas, Customs Brokers Association, Colter Carswell & Associates, among others, and some companies from Monterrey interested in investing in the Mexico-US border region.
This event was organized and sponsored by the “Secretaria de Desarrollo Economico de Reynosa, Tamaulipas” (SEDEEM), the Economic Development Corporation of McAllen, Texas (MEDC), and also some Industrial developers established in Reynosa such as American Industries, GGP, “Grupo Sara” and “Grupo Stiva”. The event was a complete success and at the end some representants of European countries who attended the event announced to Armando Zertuche (Secretary of the "Secretaria de Desarrollo Economico y del Empleo de Reynosa"), their interest of visiting the Region of Reynosa / McAllen.
About American Industries Group:
American Industries Group is Mexico’s leading manufacturing facilitator with over 30 years of successfully landing manufacturing projects in Mexico from over 100 global corporations. For more information visit our company’s website: www.AmericanIndustriesGroup.com or contact us at + 52 (899) 951-8300
Press Contact:
Cesar Sanchez
American Industries Group
12120 Esther Lama Dr. S-100. El Paso
Texas 79936
Ph ( 915 )-860-0401
business.opportunities@reynosa-mcallendevelopment.com
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Steelcase announces new location in Reynosa South Texas Border Town
Steelcase announces new location in Reynosa
Blog Post by MEDC
Steelcase, a leading manufacturer of designer office furniture, announced plans to open operations in Reynosa. This facility will focus on chairs and will begin production in early 2010.
From the Steelcase news release:
“This will help us improve gross margins and allow the three affected plants to focus on their core product lines,” says Hamid Khorramian, vice president, North America Operations. “The new plant, located near the U.S. – Mexico border and about 250 miles south of San Antonio, Texas, is ideally located so we can serve customers across North America while controlling our shipping costs.”
To read full post by MEDC click here
Blog Post by MEDC
Steelcase, a leading manufacturer of designer office furniture, announced plans to open operations in Reynosa. This facility will focus on chairs and will begin production in early 2010.
From the Steelcase news release:
“This will help us improve gross margins and allow the three affected plants to focus on their core product lines,” says Hamid Khorramian, vice president, North America Operations. “The new plant, located near the U.S. – Mexico border and about 250 miles south of San Antonio, Texas, is ideally located so we can serve customers across North America while controlling our shipping costs.”
To read full post by MEDC click here
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