COSTEP Advances Texas-Japan Trade Relations to Boost Rio South Texas Development

COSTEP, the Council for South Texas Economic Progress, held a series of meetings in Austin, Texas, with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC), the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, and the Office of Economic Development and Tourism.

These meetings bolstered trade relations between Texas and Japan, positioning Rio South Texas as a strategic hub for foreign investment.

Representing COSTEP were CEO Adam Gonzalez, Economic Development Director Rick Carrera, and RSTEF Grants Manager Rafael Tapia. They emphasized the importance of these engagements in driving economic growth. Carrera highlighted the opportunity to “establish and strengthen our ties with business leaders, organizations, and authorities to showcase the competitive advantages our region offers for investment projects.”

A key pillar of COSTEP’s mission is to enhance the economic development of Rio South Texas—a region encompassing seven Texas counties, including Jim Hogg, Starr, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, Hidalgo, and Cameron—and extending its influence into ten major cities in Tamaulipas, such as Nuevo Laredo, Reynosa, Matamoros, and Miguel Alemán. Their goal is to attract investments that strengthen the local community and create new economic opportunities.

“These strategic meetings reinforce COSTEP’s role as an active promoter of commercial expansion and trade exchange between Texas and Japan,” added Carrera.