Aleman: Why San Benito EDC and CODEM have signed an MOU

SAN BENITO, Texas – Ramiro Aleman, executive director of San Benito Economic Development Corporation, is expecting great things to happen as a result of a new MOU his organization has signed with CODEM, the private sector economic development corporation of Matamoros.

“They see the potential we do,” Aleman said of CODEM.

Aleman said he came up with the idea of forging a memorandum of understanding after receiving numerous calls from manufacturers looking to move into the region. He said U.S. companies have called him wanting to set up operations in Matamoros while Mexican companies have contacted him to ask about building a plant in SAN BENITO.

In fact, Aleman hopes to announce that a new manufacturer from Mexico will be coming to his city in the coming weeks.

“There’s a lot of potential here,” Aleman said.

A great asset for San Benito, Harlingen, and Cameron County, Aleman said, is the Free Trade Bridge at Los Indios. All three entities are part owners. Aleman pointed out that the port of entry offers the shortest wait times for truckers in the Rio Grande Valley. “It is currently under-utilized,” Aleman said.

However, the Free Trade Bridge has agricultural inspectors and cold storage facilities, Aleman said. “It is a great asset,” he added.

Here is an exclusive interview Aleman conducted with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service:

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