Mazatlan and Pharr, Texas Build Economic Ties

by Maureen Dietrich on 21 Nov 13  
mazmessenger.com 

A trailer leaving Mazatlan can be in Pharr in 12 hours, saving $1,200 dollars per container.

Representatives of the city of Pharr, Texas are in town this week meeting with Mazatlan Mayor Alejandro Higuera, agricultural producers and port officials in advance of signing a Sister City accord between the two cities.

The accord will open an enormous door for the export of Sinaloan agricultural products, said the Mayor, emphasizing that the Pharr International Bridge is strategically central to all the commercial routes connecting Canada, the United States and Mexico.

It is here where the brokers are, he said, and products such as tomatoes cultivated in Central America or Mexico shipped by truck enter the United States through the Pharr International Bridge connecting Pharr with Reynosa, Tamaulipas.

Brokers are interested in saving money for Mazatlan producers. He pointed out they can transport products from Culiacan, La Cruz, southern Sinaloa and north of Nayarit via the Mazatlan-Matamoros highway. A trailer leaving Mazatlan can be in Pharr in 12 hours, saving $1,200 dollars per container.

Products such as tomatoes and eggplant now go through Nogales and cost $1,200 dollars more and take 70 hours longer to reach Texas, the Mayor said, as compared to transport via the Mazatlan-Matamoros highway.

The Pharr committee composed of 30 representatives will meet with agricultural producers and tour the port facilities. On Friday, they will spend a daytrip visiting the Baluarte Bridge and at 5pm that evening the official Sister City ceremony will take place in the municipal hall.

 (from Noroeste)