Metropolitan Automotive Cluster Strengthens Ties with Rio South Texas Region During Strategic Visit Organized by COSTEP

Rio South Texas Region welcomed a delegation from the Metropolitan Automotive Cluster during a strategic visit organized by COSTEP, focused on gaining firsthand insight into the investment opportunities, business development potential, and competitive advantages the region offers companies involved in manufacturing and the automotive supply chain.

The meeting brought together representatives from the private sector, business organizations, academic institutions, government authorities, and economic development organizations in one place, fostering discussions about the industrial and logistics capabilities of Rio South Texas Region, as well as potential collaboration with Mexican companies interested in expanding their presence in Texas or strengthening their binational operations.

During the first day of the visit, participants discussed topics related to manufacturing, availability of specialized talent, infrastructure, logistics, international trade, incentives, supplier development, and investment opportunities, as well as the role the region can play as a connecting point for supply chains operating between Mexico and the United States.

The delegation was welcomed and accompanied by Adam González, CEO of COSTEP, the organization responsible for coordinating this strategic visit and fostering connections between the Metropolitan Automotive Cluster and key stakeholders in Rio South Texas Region.

The Metropolitan Automotive Cluster delegation was led by Elisa Crespo Ferrer, executive president of the organization, and included business representatives such as Ramiro Escobedo Santoyo, CEO of JSP; Paola Favela, from Grupo Zeit – 3PL Automotive; Ignacio Sackman, CEO of Grupo Sackman, as well as business leaders and specialists in logistics, manufacturing, foreign trade, and industry services.

Leaders from strategic organizations and institutions within Texas’ industrial and economic development ecosystem also participated. Among them were Ralph García, Chief Operating Officer of McAllen Economic Development Corporation, and Susie Flores, Vice President of Business Recruitment at McAllen EDC. Other participants included David Ortiz, representative of TMAC; Sandra Barbosa, representative of Foreign Trade Zone #12; Richard Mesquias, from Texas Southmost College in Brownsville; Leonel García, from South Texas College; Randy Pérez, from Hidalgo County in the office of Judge Richard Cortez; Brenda Martínez and John Hershey, from Workforce Solutions; as well as Susie Torres, from Killam Development.

The meeting also included business leaders and representatives from different organizations, including Agustín Marcelino, president of Grupo Maja; Francisco Peña, founder of IBC Despacho Legal; Sergio Gracia Badiola, CEO of Mexico Industry; Marilé Rocha Flores, partner at O&P Tax Consulting Group; Abraham Guerra, founder of IDL; Andrea García, from Bright Finishing; and Ernesto Torres, representative of EDCOM.

The meeting also included representatives from INDEX, a key organization within Mexico’s export manufacturing sector. Humberto Martínez Cantú, national president of INDEX, and Alfredo Guajardo, president of INDEX Reynosa, were present, reinforcing the binational focus of the meeting and the importance of continuing to build bridges between Mexican manufacturing companies and the opportunities available in South Texas.

Throughout the visit, participants analyzed the advantages of Rio South Texas Region in terms of connectivity, workforce availability, proximity to Mexico, logistics infrastructure, and access to the U.S. market, as well as the potential to develop new investment, expansion, and business collaboration projects.

The participation of companies, clusters, economic development organizations, educational institutions, and government authorities from both countries reflects an increasingly clear trend: industrial growth opportunities are no longer analyzed solely from the perspective of a single city or state, but rather as part of an interconnected regional ecosystem, in which talent, infrastructure, manufacturing, logistics, and international trade must work in a coordinated manner.

The visit also helped identify new opportunities for collaboration between the Metropolitan Automotive Cluster, COSTEP, and organizations throughout Rio South Texas Region, opening the door to future meetings, partnership initiatives, and business opportunities between Mexican and Texas-based companies.