# RioPlex Summit in Houston Showcases RGV as Global Investment H | TX Biz News | USLege

> RioPlex Summit in Houston Showcases RGV as Global Investment Hub Amid Tariff Pause

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# RioPlex Summit in Houston Showcases RGV as Global Investment H | TX Biz News

RioPlex Summit in Houston Showcases RGV as Global Investment Hub Amid Tariff Pause

TXBIZNEWS April 22, 2025

This article is preserved from the TXBIZNEWS archive. [Read the complete original issue](https://uslege.beehiiv.com/p/txbiznews-49adb7a401ea3cc4). For current coverage, read [The Political Spotlight](/newsletters).

RioPlex’s Texas Port to the Stars FDI Summit, held April 9-10, 2025 in Houston, brought together global leaders to position the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and northern Tamaulipas as a top destination for foreign direct investment. The event comes as the Trump Administration pauses tariffs, boosting trade optimism. This initiative is the brainchild of CIL Logistics founder and president Joaquin Spamer.

## **_The Details:_**

-   **Global Reach**: Consulates from 17 countries, spanning Europe to Asia, attended to explore RGV opportunities.
-   **Leadership Spotlight:** TAB’s Glenn Hamer moderated a panel with RGV mayors John Cowen (Brownsville), Norie Gonzalez (Mission), Norma Sepulveda (Harlingen), and Javier Villalobos (McAllen).
-   **Tariff Relief:** The tariff pause under the USMCA strengthens Texas’s trade position, with 75% of U.S.-Mexico trade crossing Texas borders in 2024.
-   **RGV Assets:** The region boasts 13 international bridges, seven airports, and a young workforce with a median age of 27-28.

> Guerra: The Port of Brownsville is a maritime port unlike any other: Everything Brownsville Navigation District Chairman Esteban Guerra said at RioPlex’s Texas Port to the Stars FDI Summit.[https://t.co/TI4tpbsSFu](https://t.co/TI4tpbsSFu)
> 
> — Texas Association of Manufacturers (@TXManufacturers) [April 17, 2025](https://twitter.com/TXManufacturers/status/1912860912043565196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

‍

## **_Why It Matters:_**

Carlos Ealy, Texas Assistant Secretary of State for Mexican and Border Affairs, [called the RGV “North America’s commercial artery,”](https://texasborderbusiness.com/rioplex-launches-a-new-era-of-binational-economic-power/?utm_source=www.txlege.news&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=txbiznews&_bhlid=03209981101838be36e4bebbd73307cdcb8cc78f) emphasizing its role in global trade and innovation.

## **_The Catch:_**

Tariff shifts could still impact trade, stay tuned for policy updates.

## **_Bottom Line:_**

RioPlex’s summit marks the RGV as a rising star in international investment, fueled by Texas’s trade leadership.

We hope you enjoyed today’s read!

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