Texas pledges to work with Mexican states to build transportation infrastructure

Texas announced it is working with Mexican border states Nuevo León, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Tamaulipas to develop infrastructure to satisfy merchandise transportation needs. 

The move is related to nearshoring and reshoring experienced in the region involving the relocation of plants and facilities near consumption hubs. 

“We are going to work together to build infrastructure like border crossings, customs areas, roads and highways to meet the demands of industrial plants that are arriving in the region with the reshoring and nearshoring global trend,” said the director of planning and modal programs of the Texas transport department, Caroline Mays, according to newspaper Mural.

Mays and other US officials met with Mexican officials and businessmen to find ways to advance the 2021 border master plan that contains several actions including construction of transport infrastructure. 

“We are in contact with 18 Mexican companies that are sharing their experiences with nearshoring, with the [Mexican] federal government, as well as with the state authorities and the municipal ones, to plan with anticipation the construction that we will need in the short term, within five years, in the medium term – from five to 10 years – and in the long one, so we stay proactive,” said Roberto Rodríguez, advanced planning supervisor of Laredo district in the Texas transport department. 

Nuevo León’s economy minister Iván Rivas said Texas will be a strategic partner to attract investments and to export merchandise. However, no specific projects were mentioned.