Texas Border Business
McAllen, TX – McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, the Secretary of Economy of the State of Nuevo Leon, Ivan Rivas, the Secretary of International Relations-UANL, Sandra Gonzalez and the Director of the World Trade Center – Monterrey, Dr. Eugenio Reyes, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with shared goals of boosting economic growth and business development, supporting international small and medium enterprises (SMEs), expanding entrepreneurship development, and fostering international business mentorship.
On this historic occasion, an esteemed McAllen Delegation led by newly selected City Manager Isaac Tawil who will take office on September 13th played an essential role in witnessing the significant signing.
This MOU will position McAllen as the prime business location in South Texas for World Trade Center’s members seeking to expand into U.S. markets. McAllen’s stable market conditions, strong retail dominance, and diversified market make it an ideal choice for small and midsize enterprises. The strategic location and excellent infrastructure, including two ports of entry and an international airport, offer numerous opportunities for businesses to expand into other U.S. markets.
In 2023, the McAllen retail partners helped earn an unprecedented $93.7 million for our city—a 35% increase from McAllen’s pre-pandemic sales tax revenue, and 1,150 commercial permits were issued, totaling more than $196 million in construction value. As the economic hub of the Rio Grande Valley, McAllen is one of the most welcoming communities for international businesses seeking to integrate into global markets.
This significant partnership brings mutual benefits, such as facilitating business and commercial connections with public and private sector institutions and potential partnerships with other relevant stakeholders, including the McAllen Chamber of Commerce and McAllen Economic Development Corporation which play an essential role in McAllen´s economic landscape.