Event

Eighth Annual Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border Conference

The Wilson Center's Mexico Institute and the Border Trade Alliance hosted the Eighth Annual Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border Conference on June 22 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm ET. It was a hybrid event, with both virtual and in-person participants.

Date & Time

Wednesday

Jun. 22, 2022

9:00am – 4:00pm ET

Event Sponsor

Mexico Institute

Event Co-Sponsors

BTA logo

Image Credit

Overview

Agenda

This year's conference covered issues including supply chain disruptions and viable solutions, lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, water usage and conservation, and the regional economy's resiliency.

This daylong conference featured panel discussions with U.S. and Mexican lawmakers, diplomats, and private sector representatives to spark a vibrant and productive dialogue that focused on improving border management to strengthen the U.S.-Mexico border region's competitiveness.

Press "Agenda" above for a list of panels and respective speakers, or scroll down to view all of this year's participants.

Watch the recording of the Seventh Annual Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border here.

Wednesday, June 22

09:00am – 09:10am ET

Welcoming Remarks

Andrew I. Rudman, Director, Mexico Institute

09:10am – 09:40am ET

Opening Keynotes

Andrew I. Rudman, Director, Mexico Institute - Introduction of Senator Luján
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM)
Hector Cerna, President and CEO, IBC Bank-Eagle Pass - Introduction of Congressman Pfluger
U.S. Congressman August Pfluger (R-TX)

09:45am – 11:00am ET

Panel 1 – Water Usage of Today and Tomorrow

Maria-Elena Giner, U.S Commissioner, International Boundary Water Commission (IBWC)/Comisión Internacional de Límites y Aguas (CILA)
Adriana Reséndez Maldonado, International Boundary Water Commission (IBWC)/Comisión Internacional de Límites y Aguas (CILA)
Eugenio Barrios, Director of Water, Fundación Gonzalo Río Arronte
Susana Barroso, Coordinator of Communication Committee, Consejo Consultivo del Agua
Edgar Guillaumin, Vice President of Public Affairs, Constellation Brands
John Beckham, Deputy Managing Director, North American Development Bank – Moderator

11:00am – 11:10am ET

Break

10 minute break

11:10am – 11:15am ET

Recorded Remarks

U.S. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-TX) – Recorded remarks

11:15am – 11:45am ET

Panel 2 – Collaboration at the Sub-Federal Level

Governor Maria Eugenia Campos, Chihuahua, Mexico
Lila Abed, Deputy Director, Mexico Institute – Moderator

11:45am – 11:55am ET

Recorded Remarks

U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)

12:00pm – 01:30pm ET

Keynote Lunch

Lunch reception in Wilson Center Dining Room with keynote address by Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Esteban Moctezuma and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar.

Please note: The keynote address will be exclusive to in-person attendees; it will not be streamed online or recorded.

01:45pm – 02:45pm ET

Panel 3 – Collaboration at the Federal Level

Katherine Dueholm, Director for Mexican Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Georgina Barquet, Head of Borders and Special Affairs, Embassy of Mexico in the United States
Chris Andino, Director for Western Hemisphere Programs, Department of State's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Earl Anthony Wayne, Public Policy Fellow, Wilson Center – Moderator

02:45pm – 03:45pm ET

Panel 4 – Economic Resilience of the Border

Kenia Zamarripa, Executive Director of International Business Affairs, San Diego Regional Chamber
Lance Jungmeyer, President, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas
Gerald Schwebel, Executive Vice President, International Bank of Commerce
Gustau Alegret, Journalist, Managing Editor & Anchor of Club de Prensa & Cuestión de Poder, NTN24 – Moderator

03:45pm – 04:00pm ET

Closing Remarks

Andrew I. Rudman, Director, Mexico Institute
Britton Mullen, President, Border Trade Alliance

Tagged

Mexico Border Communities

Introductions

Andrew I. Rudman

Public Policy Fellow, Former Director, Mexico Institute

Britton Mullen

President, Border Trade Alliance

Keynote Speakers

Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma

Mexican Ambassador to the United States

Ambassador Ken Salazar

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico

Moderators

Panelists

Senator Ben Ray Luján

U.S. Senator (D-NM)

Senator Kyrsten Sinema

U.S. Senator (D-AZ)

Maria-Elena Giner

Commissioner, United States International Boundary and Water Commission

Adriana Reséndez Maldonado

Mexican Commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission

J. Eugenio Barrios O.

Director of Water, Fundación Gonzalo Río Arronte

Susana Barroso Salcedo

Coordinator of the Communication Committee, Consejo Consultivo del Agua

Edgar Guillaumin

Vice President of Public Affairs, Constellation Brands

Representative Veronica Escobar

U.S. House Representative (D-TX); Member of the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship

María Eugenia Campos Galván

Governor of Chihuahua, Mexico

Katherine Duffy Dueholm

Director for Mexican Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Chris Andino

Director for Western Hemisphere Programs, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), U.S. State Department

Georgina Barquet

Head of Borders and Special Affairs, Embassy of Mexico in the United States

Kenia Zamarripa

Vice President, International and Public Affairs, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

Lance Jungmeyer

President, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas

Gerald Schwebel

Executive Vice President, Corporate International Division, International Bank of Commerce

Hosted By

Mexico Institute

The Mexico Institute seeks to improve understanding, communication, and cooperation between Mexico and the United States by promoting original research, encouraging public discussion, and proposing policy options for enhancing the bilateral relationship. A binational Advisory Board, chaired by Luis Téllez and Earl Anthony Wayne, oversees the work of the Mexico Institute. Read more

Thank you for your interest in this event. Please send any feedback or questions to our Events staff.