Third Annual "Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border" Conference
The Wilson Center's Mexico Institute held our third annual high-level "Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border" conference.
Overview
The Wilson Center's Mexico Institute and the Border Trade Alliance held our third annual Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border conference, which focused on improving border management in order to strengthen the competitiveness of both the United States and Mexico. Special attention will be given to transportation infrastructure, trade facilitation, human capital development, financial transactions, and the need for efforts that simultaneously support security and efficiency in border management.
Agenda
8:00 - 8:30 Registration / Coffee and Pastries
8:30-8:40 Welcome
Christopher Wilson, Deputy Director, Mexico Institute, Wilson Center
8:40 - 9:30 Policymakers Panel: Strengthening Border Competitiveness in a Complex Political Environment
Congressman Beto O'Rourke (TX-16th)
Carlos Sada, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States
Moderator: Duncan Wood, Director, Mexico Institute, Wilson Center
9:30 - 10:40 Anatomy of a Relationship: The Evolution of U.S.-Mexico Cooperation in Border Management
Alan Bersin, Assistant Secretary of International Affairs and Chief Diplomatic Officer, Department of Homeland Security
Sergio Alcocer, Researcher, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Geronimo Gutierrez, Managing Director, North American Development Bank
Moderator: Christopher Wilson, Deputy Director, Mexico Institute, Wilson Center
10:40 - 10:55 Networking Coffee Break
11:00 - 11:25 Keynote Address
Senator Jeff Flake (AZ)
Introduction: Blair Ruble, Vice President, Wilson Center
11:30 - 12:15 Managing the Border for Security and Competitiveness
Gil Kerlikowske, Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection
Moderator: Michael Camuñez, President and CEO, ManattJones Global Strategies
12:15 - 1:15 Networking Lunch
Welcoming Remarks from Our Partners
Ambassador Mario Chacon, ProMéxico
Michael Camuñez, ManattJones Global Strategies
Noe Garcia, Border Trade Alliance
1:15 - 2:05 Border Banking: How to Prevent Money Laundering while Facilitating Commerce and Financial Inclusion
José Luis Stein, Vice President, Supervision of Preventative Processes, National Banking and Securities Commission of Mexico
Lea Marquez Peterson, President, Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Hector Cerna, President & CEO, International Bank of Commerce, Eagle Pass, Texas
Moderator: Russ Jones, Chairman, Border Trade Alliance, and R.L. Jones Customhouse Brokers
2:05 - 3:05 Facilitating Trade and Travel: Improving Infrastructure and Processes at Our Ports of Entry
José Antonio Vidales, President, Confederation of Mexican Customs Agent Associations
Gary Gallegos, Executive Director, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
Karin Sullivan, Senior Advisor, Office of Mexican Affairs, Department of State
Moderator: Erik Lee, Executive Director, North American Research Partnership
3:05 - 4:00 Building the Knowledge Economy: Education and Human Capital Creation in the Border Region
Melissa Floca, Interim Director, Center for U.S.-Mexico Studies, UC San Diego
Rebeca Vargas, President & CEO, U.S.-Mexico Foundation
Congressman Will Hurd (TX-23rd)
Moderator: Lydia Nesbitt-Arronte, Vice President for Education and Workforce, The BorderPlex Alliance
Thanks to Our Partners
For additional sponsorship opportunities, contact Christopher.Wilson@wilsoncenter.org.
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
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