McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — The MXLAN International Economic Summit kicked off a four-day cultural fest in this South Texas border town on Friday that stressed the importance of increasing binational trade and economic ties with Mexico.

The annual event is usually held over Cinco de Mayo weekend and this year is no different.

Most of the event features food, fun and cultural exhibits. But that’s after area leaders from both sides of the border come together to talk about the serious stuff.

Erika Martinez, director of Grupo Estrategia Political, a political consulting group in Mexico, said corruption is hindering economic expansion in Mexico.

She says the government does not stop it and urges young voters to come out and participate in the upcoming June presidential elections for meaningful change.

“But don’t be too scared,” she said in Spanish after repeating tales of corruption to the audience of 400 gathered at the McAllen Convention Center.

St. Mary University economics professor Belinda Roman predicted the median income in McAllen would increase to $55,000 by 2040, up from $35,000 currently.

“There’s a significant growth opportunity here. It’s how it’s harnessed,” Roman said.

Health care and engineering and manufacturing, as well as border maquiladoras, and transportation and commerce are the growing industries, experts said.

Higher education also is expanding on both sides of the border and there are agreements between local colleges and universities to help students transition, as well as special programs for students who come from Mexico.

“Engineers plan things but you have to have welders and people in all the trades to make it happen,” UTRGV Founding President Guy Bailey said.

Bailey said 68% of undergraduates at UTRGV “pay no tuition or mandatory fees” as a way to promote higher education among families in the Rio Grande Valley.

The university also has a center in Matamoros, Mexico, just across from Brownsville, Texas.

“What happens in Mexico, on the other side of the border affects us every day of our lives and so it’s important that both sides be well educated. If you don’t have an educated workforce in Mexico, you can’t move factories down here. So we see ourselves as integrated as one region, separated by a river, and a national boundary, but we’re still one region,” Bailey told Border Report.

McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos says this year’s theme of MXLAN focuses on future generations.

“We’re celebrating our culture. Our theme this year is ‘These are our roots. We are the flowers.’ We’re talking about the past and the future. And when we talk about flowers we’re talking about younger people. So MXLAN what we have is a bunch of different events from economic issues to educational issues but it’s also a festivity,” Villalobos told Border Report.

Entrepreneur Bernardo Mesa lives in Monterrey, Mexico, and came to Friday’s economic summit in hopes of making connections to sell and export his chimichurri sauce in the United States.

“I’m trying to see what I can do and meet people and learn more,” Mesa told Border Report.

“Having platforms like this educate not only the public but the folks in the area about some of the options out there, what opportunities and what’s really happening in our region,” former Texas Workforce Commissioner Julian Alvarez told Border Report.

Alvarez, who lives in the Rio Grande Valley, was appointed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in 2017 and served until 2023.

He said he was impressed by learning of the expanding industries and higher education opportunities that are now available.

“It was amazing,” Alvarez said.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@Borderreport.com