Tijuana to Host Binational Business Forum for USMCA
A Binational Business Forum focused on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will be held in Tijuana, Baja California, on January 16. This event aims to explore substantial improvements to the agreement and facilitate business and investment opportunities in the commerce, services, and tourism sectors.
Organized by the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco-Servytur), the forum seeks to boost economic and commercial development across border regions. It also aims to enhance competitiveness and collaboration with enterprises from the United States and Canada within the framework of the USMCA.
Octavio de la Torre de Stéffano, the president of Concanaco, emphasized that these forums present a unique opportunity to strengthen the value chains among Mexico, the United States, and Canada, fostering job creation and community development. He highlighted the critical role of commerce, services, and tourism in Mexico’s economy, noting that these sectors contribute 66% of the GDP and provide 7 out of 10 formal jobs in the country.
The series of forums titled, “Binational Business Forums USMCA: Connecting Opportunities Mexico-United States-Canada” will take place from January 13 to January 17, 2025. Locations will include Matamoros, Monterrey, Ciudad Juárez, Tijuana, and Nogales.
The first forum will be held in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, on January 13, followed by Monterrey, Nuevo León, on January 14. Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, will host on January 15, followed by Tijuana on January 16, and finally, Nogales, Sonora, on January 17. Participants will include governors, mayors, state economy secretaries, consuls, ambassadors, foreign trade organizations, and business leaders invited by local chambers of commerce, along with T-MEC negotiation experts.
Mexico is the United States’ main trading partner and the second-largest for Canada, with 84% of Mexican non-oil exports directed to the US, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
Expansion in North American Industry Cooperation
In line with the upcoming business forum, there is a growing emphasis on enhancing the cooperation within the North American industrial landscape. As trade routes and supply chains evolve, companies are seeking pathways to increase synergy among Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Areas of focus include technology transfer, environmental sustainability in industry, and infrastructure development.
Additionally, there is a rising interest from Canadian and American tech firms in partnerships and joint ventures with Mexican enterprises to leverage competitive advantages in labor and location. By integrating resources and expertise across borders, stakeholders aim to pave the way for more resilient and prosperous economic ties under the USMCA framework.
These efforts reflect a concerted push to not only fortify existing trade relations but also to capitalize on the pacts that facilitate substantial bilateral and trilateral investments across these neighboring countries.