COSTEP Drives a New Era of Industrial Collaboration Between Texas and Mexico

During the National Index Convention, Adam González, CEO of the Council for South Texas Economic Progress (COSTEP), highlighted the organization’s role as an integrator of binational economic development. His participation underscored the importance of strengthening alliances between the private sector, government institutions, and industrial associations to reinforce the manufacturing ecosystem on both sides of the border.

“The role of COSTEP is to connect, collaborate, and generate investment opportunities,” González stated, highlighting the organization’s mission to attract new companies to the Rio South Texas Region. This area encompasses seven counties and key cities such as Laredo, Roma, McAllen, Edinburg, Pharr, Donna, Weslaco, Harlingen, and Brownsville, working in close coordination with the industrial municipalities of Tamaulipas. This collaborative vision has helped position the region as one of North America’s most dynamic manufacturing corridors.

A Strategic Alliance with Index Nacional

One of the most significant moments of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between COSTEP and Index Nacional to promote joint initiatives in investment, industrial development, and regional competitiveness. González noted that the agreement aims to facilitate the establishment of companies seeking to expand along the border—assisting Mexican firms planning to open logistics or distribution operations in Texas, as well as U.S. companies seeking to establish manufacturing plants in Mexico.

“We want businesses to have direct access to the productive ecosystems of both countries,” he explained. The alliance represents a decisive step toward North American industrial integration, strengthening collaboration with regional chapters such as Index Matamoros, Index Reynosa, and Index Nuevo Laredo. For González, this understanding marks a new stage of institutional coordination and shared vision: “It is an honor to collaborate with an organization that has been a pillar of Mexico’s manufacturing growth.”

Connectivity, Incentives, and Regional Development

COSTEP serves as a strategic link between investors and local economic development entities, playing a vital role in connecting companies with the right agencies and programs, including the Office of the Governor of Texas and municipal governments. “Most incentives are tied to job creation and infrastructure expansion, but our goal is to ensure projects move forward quickly and efficiently,” González said.

This support model translates into greater operational efficiency and fewer bureaucratic barriers—key factors for attracting new investment to South Texas. Through this approach, the region has built an ecosystem capable of integrating manufacturing, distribution, and logistics with a long-term focus on innovation, talent, and sustainability.

A Binational Region United by Manufacturing

González emphasized that the Rio South Texas–Northern Tamaulipas region has more than five decades of shared manufacturing experience, giving rise to the “twin-plant” model in which companies operate complementarily on both sides of the border. “Manufacturing activities are concentrated in Mexico, while logistics and warehousing take place in Texas. Together, they form a single production chain,” he explained.

This model has maximized efficiency, reduced delivery times, and strengthened the competitiveness of the cross-border industrial corridor. For González, the joint efforts between COSTEP, Index, and local organizations represent the region’s future: “We are building an ecosystem where collaboration transcends borders and delivers tangible results for both industry and communities.”