McALLEN, RGV – McAllen’s newly installed Consul of Mexico pledges “cultural diplomacy” as he begins his job in the Rio Grande Valley.
The U.S.-Mexico region is one of the most dynamic regions in the world, and is the fourth largest economy in the world if you add the GDP of bordering states from both countries, according to Consul Guillermo Ordorica Robles.
At a press conference with media on Thursday morning, the diplomat spoke about his approach to outreach to local residents and local authorities. He said his approach will allow for maximum cooperation in order to promote Mexico as a safe destination for investment.
“It’s to (promote) an agenda for free trade, and to continue building bridges of understanding between entrepreneurs, business people, school leaders and politicians,” Ordorica said at the press conference. “Of course, the first goal is to take care of Mexican interests, whatever they may be.”
Ordorica was selected by the Consulate of Mexico on May 26 to head the McAllen jurisdiction, which is comprised by Hidalgo, Starr and Brooks counties. He takes over the position of former consul Erasmo Martínez Martínez, who after seven years in McAllen was promoted to Ambassador in Kenya, Africa.
Ordorica is a member of the Mexican Foreign Service. Previously, he has served as the Mexican ambassador to the U.S. in Washington D.C. as well as Mexican Embassy in Vatican, the Holy See in Vatican City during the time of Pope John Paul II.
He has served as Consul of Mexico in Boise, Idaho and is the former director of the House of Mexico at the University of Paris (Sorbonne).
He is a former university professor and author of several books including “The Vatican State and its International Presence”, “Hernan Cortes and Fray Bartolome de las Casas: For a Reconciled Mexico” and wrote a novel entitled “Days of Salt.”
Ordorica is also a former national cycling champion, and member of Mexico’s Olympic cycling team in the 1970s.
“We are thinking about improving quality and how to do better outreach with people in the region,” Ordorica said. “In this area, we not only have to properly address the economic investment and the opportunities emerging from both regions, we have to make people aware of the dangers of trying to cross without documents.
“They have to comply with the law, and we have to be creative to make people understand so they cooperate with the authorities,” he said. “What we do here echoes in Mexico.”
