Pharr–SLP: Binational Cooperation to Turn Agreements into Investment Projects

The alliance between Pharr, Texas, and Canacintra San Luis Potosí places SMEs at the center of an agenda designed to attract investment and facilitate their integration into cross-border value chains. This agreement stands out as one of the first tangible results of the memorandum signed between Pharr and Canacintra Nacional.

Víctor Pérez, President and CEO of the Pharr Economic Development Corporation, emphasized that the goal is to share resources and create opportunities for projects with greater certainty. “You can’t do these things or these investments alone,” he noted, highlighting the role of allies on both sides of the border.

He also announced that Pharr will maintain a strong presence in Mexico to meet with interested companies: “We have a goal of continuing to travel here, because in Mexico there are many people who want to invest and many resources. Both sides can support one another.”

From Intention to Operation

Along the same lines, Lilvette Santos, Director of Business Economic Development at Pharr EDC, explained that the signing in San Luis Potosí represents one of the first outcomes of the broader agreement with Canacintra Nacional.

According to Santos, a mirrored agenda is being developed with Canacintra chapters and local Economic Development authorities to align sector priorities and transform dialogue into concrete opportunities. The roadmap includes:

• Information packages
• Roadshows
• B2B meetings
• Technical visits
• Comprehensive support for companies ready to scale into Texas

Through this framework, the SLP–Pharr collaboration will focus on sharing information, opening doors, and guiding companies in project evaluation, with institutional backing from both sides to enhance competitiveness.

Regional Growth and Strategic Clusters

Following the national agreement between Canacintra and Pharr, Canacintra’s San Luis Potosí chapter formalized this collaboration to strengthen SMEs and energize the state’s strategic clusters.

“We believe this strong relationship can drive economic development throughout this logistics corridor, benefiting both San Luis Potosí and Texas,” said Imelda Elizalde, President of Canacintra San Luis Potosí.

The plan includes business meetings, forums, and business tourism initiatives, aligning supply and demand across key sectors such as automotive, medical, logistics, and industrial manufacturing.

A Relationship Spanning Over a Decade

The relationship between San Luis Potosí and Pharr already spans more than a decade, and now it is being scaled up to transform interest into traceable projects—from first contact to business closing.

“Pharr, Texas has had a long-standing history with San Luis. Today, as we move into the second half of 2025 and the years ahead, we believe this strong relationship can drive economic development and generate real well-being for both Potosino and American citizens,” Elizalde added.

Binational Competitiveness and Shared Prosperity

With Canacintra serving as an articulating hub, the strategy will reinforce dialogue with authorities, clusters, and academia, prioritizing competitiveness, strengthening local supply chains, and generating jobs.

The SLP–Pharr corridor will concentrate its efforts on the logistics, automotive, and manufacturing sectors with the goal of accelerating business deals, integrating new suppliers into binational value chains, and positioning the region as a competitive business platform in North America.