REYNOSA, Mexico, Jan. 12 - Under heavy security measures, Mexican President Felipe Calderón provided the keynote address at the opening ceremonies of the Anzalduas Bridge connecting Mission, Texas with the northwestern industrial sector of Reynosa, Tamaulipas.
“This project is of great importance not just to Mission and Reynosa, not just to Texas and Tamaulipas, but to the people of the nations on both sides of the Border,” Calderón said, in Spanish.
For much of his speech, Calderón emphasized the importance of economic opportunities between the U.S. and Mexico.
“We realize that the best way to create jobs in Texas and Tamaulipas is to create the connections that enhance commerce between our two countries,” he said. “Our economies are designed to complement one another. The largest economy in the world and a smaller but growing economy in Mexico, a capital intensive economy and a labor intensive economy each with a great geographic opportunity to reinforce each other and to grow and flourish.”
Eugenio Hernández Flores, Governor of Tamaulipas, was a key figure in the completion of the Anzalduas Bridge. He accompanied Calderón during the inauguration of the bridge.
“The mere appearance of President Calderón at this inauguration ceremony clearly shows the relevance of opening another port of entry between the States of Tamaulipas and Texas, between Mexico and the United States,” Hernández said.
“Having seen this project through to its completion is of great significance. It shows the strength and cooperation of two great nations and the great cooperation of all the Mexican municipal governments involved in this project, as well as the property owners who were willing to negotiate with the different levels of government in order for this bridge to be built.”
Hernández said the improved facility to import and export goods between the two countries will have a “profound effect” on the local and national economies of both countries.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, represents the Mission/Granjeno area where the bridge stands. Cuellar held an impromptu press conference with reporters from both the U.S. and Mexico just before the ceremony began.
“We as a nation need to focus more on facilitating trade through building bridges, like this one. We also need to make sure that with a facility like this you have the right personnel. While security is an issue that must be addressed we need to be looking with just as much emphasis on promoting trade between our countries,” Cuellar said.
“Ninety-nine percent of Mexican nationals coming across the Border through the ports of entry are coming here for legitimate purposes. We must assure that these people are able to move across as quickly as possible. Mexicans are spending money in the retail sectors of our economy, in the hotels and restaurants. Texas trade with Mexico is over one billion dollars a day.”
Reynosa Mayor Oscar Luebbert also spoke during the ceremony. He said the process of building Anzalduas Bridge took 18 years from start to finish.
“President Calderón and Governor Hernández Flores are to be congratulated for staying on task during the all the years of their individual terms as well as the functionaries of the cities of the Rio Grande Valley bordering Reynosa. This is a historic day for Reynosa,” Luebbert said.
The Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations, Patricia Espinosa Cantellano was the only speaker at the event to mention the much derided border wall.
“It is much more rewarding to see bridges built between our countries than walls. Bridges integrate our economies, our people and our culture,” Espinosa said. “Yes we do need to address security issues and other issues such as protectionism on both sides of the border. A bridge is a powerful instrument in the quest to achieve those goals.”
Calderón concluded his remarks by referencing the historic significance of 2010.
“It gives me great pleasure to inaugurate the Anzalduas Bridge at the beginning of 2010, the 200th anniversary of Mexican Independence and the one-hundredth anniversary of the Mexican Revolution,” Calderón said.
“Twenty-first Century globalization has shown the importance of integration and bridges promote just that. The new Anzalduas Bridge along with the Pharr Bridge will go a long way to resolving congestion in the city of Reynosa by offering two alternative routes for commercial traffic.”
Calderón said it is appropriate that the Mexican federal government has increased from three percent to five percent the portion of Gross Domestic Product allocated to the development toward the building of bridges, highways, airports and ports of entry, even in these times of financial crisis.
“This bridge represents a huge step in the direction of bringing our two economies together. I send my greetings and thanks through Mr. Ron Kirk to President Obama and our assurance that your priorities of a secure and competitive border are also ours,” declared Calderón in conclusion.
Kirk, the Trade Representative in Obama’s Cabinet, was the highest ranking U.S. official at the ceremony.
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