COMCE leads trade mission of mexican entrepreneurs to McAllen and Pharr, Texas

The Mexican Council for Foreign Trade (COMCE) will carry out its tenth trade mission to the Texas Valley on May 15–16, 2025, with scheduled activities in McAllen and Pharr. The mission aims to strengthen Mexican exports and facilitate business expansion into the United States.

A total of 26 Mexican entrepreneurs will participate in the mission, primarily from the agri-food, manufacturing, and automotive sectors. They will seek to gain firsthand knowledge of U.S. regulatory requirements and explore the opportunities offered by the American market.

Opening day in McAllen: essential knowledge for exporting

The first day will take place at the Mexican Consulate in McAllen, where key conferences will be held to support the international operations of Mexican companies.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will open the program with a presentation on the essential requirements for exporting from Mexico. "It’s crucial for businesspeople to understand the process from the beginning in order to avoid mistakes and optimize export timelines," said Liborio Flores, President of COMCE Zacatecas.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will explain the certification processes required for food products—an essential topic for the agribusiness sector. Also participating will be the Reynosa Customs Brokers Association, which will address the logistics, documentation, and regulatory procedures needed to cross the border. “Understanding these regulations is not just mandatory; it's strategic. The success of an export operation greatly depends on it,” Flores added.

The program will also include a presentation by the Pharr Economic Development Corporation, which will outline the incentives available to Mexican entrepreneurs looking to establish operations in the Texas Valley. In addition, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) will present its soft-landing program, designed to help foreign businesses settle in the U.S. “They offer comprehensive guidance—from legal and tax aspects to practical tools for a successful setup,” Flores emphasized.

The day will close with a panel of success stories, where Mexican entrepreneurs currently operating in the United States will share their experiences. “Hearing from those who have already walked this path is invaluable—these are practical lessons that can make a real difference,” said the COMCE Zacatecas president.

Day two: logistics, infrastructure and real opportunities

The second day will begin with a tour of the Pharr International Bridge, led by its general director, Luis Bazán. Attendees will observe the logistical process a cargo truck follows from its arrival at customs to its entry into the U.S. market. “Pharr is the main agri-food crossing port into the U.S. Understanding how it operates is essential for entrepreneurs in this sector,” Flores stated.

Following this, the group will visit a cold storage facility, a strategic infrastructure that enables temporary pallet-based storage without the need to rent a full warehouse. “Solutions like these provide a significant competitive advantage for exporting companies,” explained the business leader.

The tour will conclude at the Pharr Global Business Hub, a business center and incubator designed to support foreign companies. According to Flores, this space offers “a comprehensive overview of how to start operations in the United States—from necessary infrastructure to ongoing business support.”