Port of Harlingen Champions a United Manufacturing Region

At the COSTEP–UTRGV gathering, Pereira emphasized regional cooperation and faster freight movement as priorities for South Texas industry. 

South Texas can strengthen its appeal to manufacturers by presenting a united regional message and improving how goods move across the border, according to Miguel Pereira, director of business development for the Port of Harlingen.

Speaking with Pro Texas Industry during the COSTEP event at UTRGV, Pereira described the gathering as an opportunity to connect prospective investors with the region’s manufacturing capabilities.

“As a region, we’re really trying to attract all these companies, all these investors to come here,” he said.

Promoting South Texas as One Region

Pereira’s message centered on cooperation: helping companies recognize the opportunities available throughout South Texas and presenting those advantages collectively.

“We really feel it’s one of the hidden gems of the U.S.,” he said.

That regional approach is particularly relevant to manufacturing, where a company’s operations depend on connections beyond its immediate location. Suppliers, workers, transportation providers, and customers can be spread across several communities and both sides of the border.

For Pereira, attracting investment means helping businesses see those connections as part of a larger regional offering.

Faster Border Crossings Matter to Manufacturers

Asked how Texas and Mexico could strengthen their manufacturing relationship, Pereira identified transportation efficiency as a key area for improvement.

“I think border crossing is big,” he said.

He linked that priority to just-in-time operations, where manufacturers depend on materials and components arriving when needed. Delays can create costs throughout the supply chain.

“Every second that that cargo is not in the shipper or the end destination, it costs us money,” Pereira said.

His comments highlight a practical requirement for industrial growth: companies need dependable connections between production facilities, suppliers, and markets. Improving freight movement can help South Texas offer manufacturers greater reliability as they coordinate operations across the border.

Rail as an Opportunity for Greater Efficiency

Pereira also identified rail expansion as a potential way to improve cross-border cargo movement.

“We’re going to try and expand rail,” he said, explaining that additional rail capacity could help make border movements more efficient.

He presented expansion as an objective, without announcing a construction schedule or investment amount during the interview. The priority, he explained, is finding ways for cross-border traffic to move “faster and more efficient.”

For manufacturers evaluating South Texas, those transportation connections are part of the region’s business proposition. Efficient logistics can help companies coordinate production, manage delivery schedules, and maintain closer relationships with suppliers in Mexico.

Connecting Regional Cooperation with Industrial Growth

Pereira’s interview brought together two priorities: attracting companies through a shared regional effort and strengthening the infrastructure that supports their operations.

For South Texas, the opportunity is to translate geographic proximity into dependable business connections. By working together and improving the movement of goods, the region can strengthen its position as a manufacturing location where companies on both sides of the border can produce, supply, and grow together.