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Seventh Annual Building a Competitive U.S.- Mexico Border
Overview
Each year our border conference brings together policymakers, business leaders, and local elected officials for a dialogue that focuses on improving border management to strengthen the competitiveness of both the United States and Mexico. This year's event placed specific emphasis on trade, travel and health as we considered how the border region will recover from the myriad impacts of COVID-19.
The seventh annual-high level "Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border" conference hosted by the Mexico Institute and the Border Trade Alliance featured panel discussions with U.S. and Mexican public and private sector officials bringing sought-after perspectives to two days of discussion on border management.
Conference Agenda
Day 1 Agenda - August 10, 2021
3:00pm – Welcome
- Andrew I. Rudman, Director, Wilson Center Mexico Institute
- Britton Mullen, President, BTA
3:04pm - 3:30pm Keynote address
- Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX)
3:30pm - 4:00pm Manufacturing Panel
- Kathy Neal, Director, Global Trade Compliance, Regal Beloit
- Luis Hernandez, President, INDEX
- Moderator: Duncan Wood, Senior Advisor, Mexico Institute, and Vice President of Strategy & New New Initiatives, Wilson Center
4:00pm - 4:55pm Strengthening cross-border communities: Lessons from COVID-19
- The Hon. Todd Gloria, Mayor of San Diego
- Maria Julia Marinissen, Health Attaché, US Embassy, Mexico City and Acting Director, Border Health Commission
- Farid Hannan, Director of Economic Affairs, Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, Government of Mexico
- Moderator: Andrew I. Rudman, Director, Wilson Center Mexico Institute
4:55pm- 5:00pm Closing
- Duncan Wood, Senior Advisor to the Mexico Institute, Wilson Center
Day 2 Agenda - August 11, 2021
3:00 pm Welcome
3:02pm Recorded Remarks- Senator Mike Crapo (R – ID)
3:10pm – 3:45pm US-Canada Border Working Group – lessons for US-Mexico border
- Kathryn Friedman, Global Fellow, Canada Institute; Associate Professor, University at Buffalo
- William Anderson, Director, Cross-Border Institute; Professor, University of Windsor
- Laurie Trautman, Global Fellow, Canada Institute; Director, Border Policy Research Institute
- Moderator: Christopher Sands, Director, Canada Institute
3:45pm- 4:45pm Revitalizing the Cross-Border Economy
- Sergio Mendoza, Presidente, Desarrollo Económico, Chihuahua
- Hector Cerna, President and CEO, International Bank of Commerce, Eagle Pass, TX
- Sergio Contreras, President and CEO, Rio Grande Valley Partnership & BTA Chairman
- Jorge Goytortúa, CEO, Cross-Border Xpress,
- Moderator: Britton Mullen, President, BTA
4:45 pm- 5:00 pm Closing Remarks
- Ambassador Earl Anthony Wayne, Public Policy Fellow and co-chair, Mexico Institute Advisory Board, Wilson Center
Speakers
Kathleen Neal
Luis Manuel Hernández
Maria Julia Marinissen
Sergio Mendoza
![Hector Cerna](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/uploads/images/12602908597529105351.jpeg)
Hector Cerna
Sergio Contreras
![Earl Anthony Wayne](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/images/person/wilson_photo_feb_2018.jpg)
Earl Anthony Wayne
Former Career Ambassador to Afghanistan, Argentina, and Mexico; Distinguished Diplomat in Residence, School of International Service, American University
![Todd Gloria](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/uploads/images/Todd_Gloria_%28cropped%29_0.jpg)
Todd Gloria
![image - farid hannan](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/uploads/images/Farid%20Hannan.jpg)
Farid Hannan
![Kathryn Friedman Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/uploads/images/KBF%20Picture.jpg)
Kathryn Friedman
Research Associate Professor of Law and Planning, University at Buffalo
![Photo of William Anderson](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/uploads/images/headshot%20-%20William-Anderson.jpg)
William Anderson
![Laurie Trautman](/sites/default/files/styles/square/public/media/images/person/laurietrautman_4x5x96_web_cropped.jpg)
Laurie Trautman
Director, Border Policy Research Institute, Western Washington University
Keynote Speakers
Moderators
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.