REYNOSA, Tamaulipas – Governor Greg Abbott met with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto at Los Pinos on Tuesday to discuss how Texas and Mexico can work together to further strengthen their various partnerships.
Abbott also signed a transportation agreement between the Texas Department of Transportation and the Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation “to promote and increase bilateral collaboration on future border infrastructure projects.”
Additionally, Abbott and Mexico announced the creation of an energy task force “to foster economic growth on both sides of the border by finding new and innovative energy solutions.”
The activities concluded Abbott’s three day trip to Mexico City, his first international visit as governor.
In a news release, Abbott said he has invited Peña Nieto to visit Texas.
“I want to extend my deepest gratitude to President Peña Nieto for taking the time to meet with me on my first visit to Mexico as Governor of Texas,” Abbott said. “This trip has yielded significant outcomes that will ultimately strengthen the bond between Texas and Mexico. I look forward to continuing our dialogue and working with Mexico to ensure greater prosperity on both sides of the border.”
Regarding the Texas-Mexico transportation initiative, Abbott said: “The State of Texas recognizes the importance of its long term partnership with Mexico, which is why we must continue to expand our dialogue on issues such as border security, transportation and energy. Today’s transformative agreement on transportation signifies Texas’ and Mexico’s intent to expand highway infrastructure, encourage economic development and facilitate bilateral trade on both sides of the border.”
Regarding the Texas-Mexico energy initiative, Abbott said the energy task force would:
•Continue to strengthen and modernize our interconnected electric and natural gas infrastructure.
•Develop resources to find additional energy solutions.
•Promote investments in the energy value productive chain.
“I am pleased to announce Texas and Mexico’s intent to establish an energy task force, which will foster discussions on energy reform as developments in the energy industry proliferate at home and across the border,” Abbott said. “Texas and Mexico meet at the center of North America’s vast energy resources, and this task force will provide a unique opportunity to enrich economic growth and development for both sides.”
Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salinas, Mexico’s secretary of foreign affairs, was present for the signing of the transportation agreement. She said that the deep and diverse relationship Mexico and Texas share “flourishes when there is communication and mutual understanding.” She said Abbott´s visit “reflects the will to take that path.”
The transportation agreement was signed by Abbott and Raúl Murrieta Cummings, under secretary of infrastructure. Here is the agreement in full:
Letter of Intent between the Department of Transportation of the Government of the State of Texas of the United States of America and the Ministry of Communications and Transportation of the United Mexican States
The Department of Transportation of the Government of the State of Texas of the United States of America and the Ministry of Communications and Transportation of the United Mexican States (“SCT”), hereinafter referred to as “the Participants”;
Recognizing the long term economic partnership and history between the State of Texas and the United Mexican States to expand dialogue on border infrastructure issues;
Considering the importance of bilateral trade activity between the State of Texas and the United Mexican States;
Highlighting the ongoing need to expand border infrastructure on the Mexican side of the shared border between the United States of America and the United Mexican States as well as Texas’ highway infrastructure to encourage economic development of the region;
Desiring to expand continuous bilateral cooperation between the State of Texas and SCT specific to ongoing and future border infrastructure projects to facilitate border trade and address border wait times;
Have declared their intention as follows:
1. To establish a stronger working partnership between the Participants in order to:
– Increase oral and written communication regarding binational border infrastructure issues to expedite land crossings.
– Promote bilateral collaboration through the exchange of information and research impacting motor vehicle border land crossings.
– Increase bilateral collaboration on future border infrastructure projects.
2. To comply with the objective of this Letter of Intent, the Participants intend to conclude cooperation instruments which should specify the objective, implementation timeline, human and material resources, financing, protection of intellectual property rights, dissemination of results, and any other terms or conditions the Participants deem necessary.
3. In order to coordinate cooperation under this Letter of Intent, the Participants appoint the following areas:
– The Governor of Texas appoints: the Texas Department of Transportation
– The SCT appoints: the Direction General for Highway Development
Signed in Mexico City on the eighth day of September of two thousand and fifteen, in two original copies in the English and Spanish languages.
Editor’s Note: The main image accompanying this story shows Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto at Los Pinos, the president’s official residence in Mexico City, on Tuesday, September 8.
