Media Release – For Immediate Release
Contact: Michael Reeves President, Ports-to-Plains Alliance (806) 775-2338
RE: State of Coahuila, Mexico joins Ports-to-Plains Alliance
The Ports-to-Plains Alliance welcomed its first Mexican member as the State of Coahuila, Mexico joined the organization in a signing ceremony in Torreón, Coahuila October 14.
“Coahuila is a strong trade partner for our members and will be a great addition to Ports- to-Plains. It is a natural extension for the corridor into Coahuila not only to accommodate existing business, but to facilitate new opportunities,” said Ports-to-Plains President Michael Reeves.
“When we promote our companies and products, usually we are discriminated because we do not have good highway infrastructure, even though we have others advantages, this is still our weak point,” said Coahuila Governor Humberto Moreira Valdés at the signing ceremony. “We have made progress in the effort of improving our highway network, in order to complete this project.''
The Ports-to-Plains Alliance Corridor includes Alberta, Canada and runs through nine U.S. states to Laredo, Texas. The corridor has two border crossings into Coahuila at Del Rio / Acuña and Eagle Pass / Piedras Negras. The rural corridor serves America’s energy and agriculture heartland.
“Our region can fundamentally be described as a production area for food, fiber, and fuel. The ability to more easily move that raw product for its ultimate use or consumption means more profit for producers,” said San Angelo Mayor Alvin New, who participated in the signing ceremony as well.
Coahuila has committed to upgrading the corridor in their state from Acuña to Torreón. Governor Moreira announced that completing this corridor is the state’s top infrastructure priority.
"If we had to sacrifice other projects, we would. We must become more competitive," he said. Once in Torreón, the corridor will connect with another major highway upgrade project to connect to the deep water ports on the Mexican Pacific Coast at Mazatlan and Manzanillo.
Coahuila is the third largest state in Mexico. It is a major manufacturing and agricultural state, and is a good trade partner with many Ports-to-Plains member communities.
The Torreón metropolitan area, known as La Laguna region, is a major textile center and is projected to import about 1.6 million bales of U.S. cotton this year. Improvements to the Ports-to-Plains Corridor, which runs through major American cotton producing areas of West Texas, will facilitate more efficient trade.
"Mexico is one of the top 3 importers of U.S cotton, and especially important to the Texas cotton industry due to the proximity. The Ports to Plains project into Coahuila will help to ensure that Texas cotton will continue to be the major supplier for Mexico's textile industry," said Plains Cotton Growers Executive Vice President Steve Verett.
Monclova, Coahuila is home to a major steel industry, and three wind turbine component factories. A connection to the Ports-to-Plains Corridor, that serves 7 of the top 10 U.S. wind energy states, is a major benefit.
Border infrastructure is also important to efficient trade. Piedras Negras has been the Union Pacific railroad’s busiest border crossing. Coahuila is currently making significant investments in the bridge and port facilities in Cd. Acuña.
“It is important to note that trade and security are not mutually exclusive. By improving infrastructure and utilizing the latest technology we can have borders that efficiently move commerce and provide more security,” said Reeves.
Ports-to-Plains is a grassroots alliance of communities and businesses whose mission is to advocate for a robust transportation infrastructure to promote economic security and prosperity throughout North America’s energy and agricultural heartland.
-30-
L – R: Carlos Roman Cepeda, State of Coahuila Secretariat of Economic Development Alvin New, Mayor of San Angelo, Texas Eduardo Olmos, Mayor of Torreon, Coahuila Professor Humberto Moreira Valdes, Governor of Coahuila Michael Reeves, President of the Ports to Plains Alliance
At the official signing ceremony for the State of Coahuila joining the Ports to Plains Alliance in Torreon, Coahuila, October 14.