Photo via Luke Sohl
By Melissa Rosequist | Daily Independent
Major improvements are coming to a border entry point in southwest Arizona, which will have direct impacts to the state and Valley in the way of economics, trade and tourism.
Beyond the impacts to the state, one Valley economic expert believes strengthening the import and export abilities between Mexico and North America will have far greater implications that can reposition the country to be a competitor with Asia for manufacturing.
Mexico is Arizona’s No. 1 trading partner, reporting $8.7 billion in exports in 2022 — a 7% increase to reach its highest level since 2015, according to University of Arizona data. Further, nearly one-third of all Arizona exports were destined for Mexican markets.
Those numbers, coupled with pedestrian travel and non-commercial activity, have created the need for investment at Arizona’s San Luis I Land Port of Entry, which came in the form of $307.5 million from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“This port investment is a very significant achievement, certainly Sen. (Mark) Kelly and others that were heavily involved in this — it’s a coup for the state of Arizona,” said Chris Camacho, president and CEO of Greater Phoenix Economic Council. “The more infrastructure enhancements you make, the more cross-border trade we’re going to see. At the end of the day, that helps consumers because you’re going to get lower prices at the grocery store, at your local retailers — all kinds of reasons why this is a good thing.”
