COSTEP strengthens Mexico–U.S. industrial integration with visit from Aguascalientes Automotive Cluster (GIRAA)

The Council for South Texas Economic Progress (COSTEP) continues to advance its investment attraction and binational integration strategy by hosting members of the Aguascalientes Automotive Cluster (GIRAA) during a working visit to the Rio Grande Valley. The visit forms part of the development of the Rio South Texas Region Binational Automotive Cluster, aimed at strengthening supply chains between South Texas and northern Mexico.

According to Adam Gonzalez, CEO of COSTEP, the visit follows up on agreements established late last year and is part of a broader plan to connect Mexican automotive clusters with the industrial ecosystem of South Texas and northern Tamaulipas.

“The goal is to continue advancing the initiatives generated with the establishment of the Binational Automotive Cluster. GIRAA was the first cluster invited, and we are already working with other organizations such as ANAPSA, CANACINTRA, and the Guanajuato Automotive Cluster,” Gonzalez explained.

During the visit, COSTEP shared progress on the regional manufacturing data system currently under development, which will map existing manufacturing capabilities across seven counties in South Texas and ten municipalities in northern Tamaulipas. The study, expected to be released in the coming weeks, will provide greater clarity on the region’s productive capacity.

“We don’t just want to promote cities or demographics, but rather what is produced here and what this region has been building for more than 50 years,” Gonzalez added.

Port of Brownsville and SpaceX

As part of the agenda, the delegation met with officials from the Port of Brownsville, where Guillermo Rico Leal, Director of Business Development, presented the port’s logistics services, recent growth, and regional economic impact. The group later toured the port facilities and visited SpaceX, one of the world’s most prominent aerospace projects.

To provide a comprehensive overview of regional business opportunities, the GIRAA delegation also met with representatives from the Economic Development Corporations (EDCs) of Harlingen, Weslaco, Edinburg, and McAllen. These organizations presented competitive advantages, incentives, infrastructure, and investment opportunities in their respective cities.

Additional sessions covered the benefits of the Foreign Trade Zone of McAllen, logistics capabilities presented by IDL, and regulatory requirements for company registration and operations in the United States, led by industry specialists.

GIRAA sees opportunity amid global shifts

For her part, Mónica Genoveva Mendoza Jacques, President and founding partner of the GIRAA Automotive Cluster, highlighted the importance of visiting the region firsthand.

“There’s nothing like coming, visiting, getting to know the region, talking, and asking questions. I leave with a strong commitment to take this information back to Aguascalientes, because as a cluster we are also committed to attracting investment and helping our companies reach the next level,” she said.

Mendoza Jacques emphasized that the current global context presents a significant opportunity for Mexico and the border region.

“What’s happening with China represents a major opportunity for Mexico to become a supplier here in the United States. In times of crisis, there are also opportunities, and many times we don’t fully see what we already have,” she noted.

She also stressed the importance of strengthening regional supply chains—from basic components to automation processes—to ensure that value added and GDP remain within the region.

The visit concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding for GIRAA to formally join the Rio South Texas Region Binational Automotive Cluster, reinforcing COSTEP’s efforts to strengthen supply chains and promote the region for new investment attraction.