Earlier this week, Tamaulipas Governor-Elect, Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca, took a three-day tour to some of the most important cities in Texas that are involved in commerce, politics and economics.
Three weeks before his swearing in as governor, Cabeza de Vaca visited the cities of Brownsville, Houston and Austin. He also visited the metropolitan area of McAllen-Mission and the City of Laredo.
This is the first time in the last 20 years a Tamaulipas native Governor devoted a lot of attention to its relationship with Texas.
For many, the interest of Cabeza de Vaca wanting to maintain a close relationship with its northern neighbor is not surprising.
During Cabeza de Vaca’s campaign as a candidate of the National Action Party (PAN), he made it clear that he would seek to promote the virtues of Tamaulipas among Texans. Cabeza also announced he would seek support to work on sensitive issues such as public safety by incorporating training programs for police officers in Tamaulipas.
The message Cabeza de Vaca spread during the meetings with Texas city officials and other southern border dignitaries was very clear: Tamaulipas is fertile ground to do business.
But prior to engaging in trade with Texas, Cabeza de Vaca knows he and his administration will have to work on improving security conditions.
The importance of the Tamaulipas-Texas relationship can be understood clearly if we take into account some data. Three of the four transnational major metropolitan areas of Texas are on the border with Tamaulipas and the McAllen-Mission metropolitan area is the fifth largest in Texas, surpassing El Paso.
Areas of opportunity for Texans in Tamaulipas vary–ranging from manufacturing to energy. Cabeza de Vaca made that clear to Texas officials such as the Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller and George P. Bush, Land Commissioner. Both Miller and Bush were excited to deal with someone who speaks their language, not only in the literal sense.
After these meetings, the idea of having a Tamaulipas trade office in Texas is not only stronger, but it established a foundation.
It seems clear that the new government of Tamaulipas seeks to have Texas investments increase and more people to visit the state with commercial, tourism and family purposes.
Starting October, Tamaulipas will begin a new chapter and it will not only happen within the state, but also outside of it–mainly with their nearest neighbors.
Editor’s Note: The main image accompanying the above guest column shows Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca with the mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner, and Houston state Representatives Ana Hernandez, Armando Walle, Carol Alvarado, and Senfronia Thompson.
