ARIZONA & MEXICO

investments in technology and in incubating business on the leading edge of innovation. We must
leverage their strengths and build cross-border partnerships for research and education. Legislative
changes may be required to facilitate commercialization and attract private investments.
Public-private partnerships also can be used to innovate. We have opportunities to build research
partnerships through Mexico’s industrial and technology parks and the companies that operate there.
For instance, Guaymas has an industrial park (founded by a company from Arizona) that is home to
manufacturers for the aerospace and energy sectors. Cross-border collaboration, resource-sharing, and
incubation of start-ups should be encouraged.
Aerospace, mining, manufacturing, biotechnology, education, eco-science, medical, agriculture and
energy all offer prime opportunities for use of technology to maximize economic growth. Arizona’s
existing public and private expertise in aerospace should be used to help expand the cross-border
aerospace industry. Innovation in renewable energy, and integration of the region’s energy delivery
systems would benefit industry on both sides of the border.
Reliable, secure, high speed broadband infrastructure is critical to expanding Arizona-Mexico business
partnerships and trade. We can deploy existing technology to upgrade our current border commerce
infrastructure. For example, pre-clearance programs, better analytics and monitoring systems (including
GPS and optical character recognition) can improve efficiency, manage lane traffic, increase safety, and
help intercept illegal goods at international border ports of entry.
COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS AND MARKETING
The story we tell, how we share it, and who we share it with can influence public perceptions related
to the bi-national region. There is currently a concern that the Arizona brand is tarnished, in part due
to rhetoric, and due to past conduct. In addition, a lack of information perpetuates the problems
with public perceptions. Through elected officials or other political and community leaders, we need
to aggressively convey our value and how strong our industries and relationships have become.
Concurrently, our leaders need to engage those responsible for negative rhetoric in Arizona and
Mexico. We need data-driven, fact-based communications focused on the number of jobs created
and the revenue impact of cross-border business in support of Arizona-Mexico trade and branding –
independent of the national dialogue. We need to be specific about the competitive advantages of
doing business in Arizona and on the Arizona-Mexico border, as well as the importance of the Hispanic
community within the state, which is responsible for billions of dollars in commerce annually. However,
facts and figures should only be part of our story. The Arizona-Mexico region, through its political and
trade community leaders, must also articulate a collective vision and message of what the region is, and
what it can become in the future.
In particular, the Governor must continue to champion Arizona’s international marketing efforts through
meetings, communications, and events. An example of this is Governor Ducey’s trip to Mexico City with a
delegation of 35 business people. Follow-up from those meetings by the Governor and the private sector
leaders is critical to reinforce the messages from those meetings and build upon them.
Additionally, different consumers of information should be kept in mind, so that tailored messages
can be designed for businesses, vacation travelers, commercial visitors, and youth. The Arizona-Mexico
Commission, Arizona Commerce Authority, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Department of
13 • ARIZONA & MEXICO • ARIZONA TOWN HALL • APRIL 2016