City of Eagle Pass Participates in Binational Trade Mission to Matamoros, Coahuila and Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas participated in a binational trade mission to the City of Matamoros, Coahuila, Mexico at the invitation of Matamoros Mayor Miguel Angel Ramirez Lopez on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 to promote binational trade, economic development, and tourism between the two sister cities.
Last year, the City of Eagle Pass hosted the inaugural binational trade mission between Eagle Pass and Matamoros, Coahuila and the two communities signed a sister cities memorandum of understanding. The first binational trade mission was so successful that Matamoros Mayor Miguel Angel Ramirez Lopez invited the City of Eagle Pass for this year’s second annual binational trade mission.
Participating in the binational trade mission on behalf of the City of Eagle Pass were Eagle Pass International Bridge System General Manager Ronnie Rivera, City Marketing and Tourism Director Aide Castano, and Assistant Economic Development Department Director Adislada Mendoza. Also attending were some Eagle Pass entrepreneurs and local businesses.
Among the topics of binational trade discussed were the use of the Port of Eagle Pass as the main source for all import and export of goods between businesses and industries in Matamoros, Coahuila and the United States, business investment opportunities and incentive programs available in Eagle Pass for foreign investors, tourism and retail trade opportunities in Eagle Pass, transportation and logistical opportunities at the Port of Eagle Pass and the City Foreign Trade Zone, the Port of Eagle Pass Trade Summit of 2025 scheduled on May 7, 2025, and mutual cultural programs of interest between the two sister cities.
The binational trade mission to Matamoros, Coahuila was successful and mutual trade benefits for both communities were attained.
Following the binational trade mission to Matamoros, Coahuila, the City of Eagle Pass delegation visited the City of Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico to enter into a sister city memorandum of understanding and introduce both cities to the significant trade, business, tourism, and cultural opportunities available at both cities. The Eagle Pass delegation visited the City of Gomez Palacios, Durango Economic Development and Tourism Department and its representatives to exchange salient trade, economic development, tourism, and business opportunities available.
A sister city memorandum of understanding between the City of Eagle Pass and Gomez Palacios, Durango, Mexico was signed between city representatives. Eagle Pass invited the City of Gomez Palacios, Durango to visit Eagle Pass to learn more about binational trade opportunities and tour the City in the immediate future at a date to be designated. The Port of Eagle Pass was also highlighted at this bilateral trade meeting.
The City of Eagle Pass delegation are scheduled to visit with representatives from CANACINTRA of Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico on Friday, August 23, 2024 as well as tour industrial and manufacturing parks within the City of Torreón, Coahuila while exploring future collaboration between the two communities concerning binational trade, economic development, tourism and retail trade, and cultural programs.
Eagle Pass International Bridge System General Manager Ronnie Rivera stated this binational trade mission to the area of northern Coahuila and the State of Durango is designed to promote greater awareness of the Port of Eagle Pass and the forthcoming United States-Mexico-Canada trade growth due to nearshoring arising from the new free trade agreement between the three countries. Rivera noted it is important for Eagle Pass to promote itself as well as learn of the binational trade opportunities available in northern Coahuila and Durango.
Eagle Pass Marketing and Tourism Director Aide Castano stated the three day binational trade mission to northern Coahuila and Durango has raised the awareness of international trade and tourism opportunities available in Eagle Pass. Castano noted that future mutual benefits of this trade mission trip will be noticeable in the near future.
Eagle Pass Assistant Economic Development Department Director Adislada Mendoza stated the City of Eagle Pass was well received and highly thought of by the city representatives from Matamoros and Torreón, Coahuila and Gomez Palacios, Durango. Mendoza added that the City of Eagle Pass, the Port of Eagle Pass, and Eagle Pass businesses will definitely benefit from this binational trade mission in the immediate future. Mendoza noted the City of Eagle Pass needs to develop and grow these important binational trade and tourism opportunities to raise the quality of life for Eagle Passans.
The Eagle Pass delegation will be reporting to City Manager Homero Balderas and the Eagle Pass City Council regarding their findings and binational trade opportunities available within the communities visited. The City delegation deemed this binational trade mission a success for Eagle Pass and its businesses and citizens. There is definitely more work and promotion to be done if the City of Eagle Pass is to fulfill its potential as a binational trade and tourism center, but this trade mission is a positive step in the right direction.
