Cowen, Spamer: The RGV should have been represented on Gov. Abbott’s Asia trade mission

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BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Brownsville Mayor John Cowen and CIL Group President Joaquin Spamer say the Rio Grande Valley should have been represented on a huge Texas trade mission currently underway in Asia.

Gov. Greg Abbott and Adriana Cruz, executive director of Texas Economic Development & Tourism in the Governor’s Office, are spearheading the trip, which takes in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.

Lots of other cities and economic development groups from across Texas are on the trip, including Borderplex Alliance, which represents El Paso, Ciudad Juarez, and Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

The Governor’s tour started July 5 and ends July 13. In a press release, Abbott said he will meet with world-class businesses and government leaders to drive forward progress in industries critical to the future of the global economy.

“As we look towards the future, Texas is leading the way by advancing freedom and opportunity through cooperation and mutual economic development to empower the next generation,” Abbott said.

“Texas offers businesses in critical and emerging industries, such as semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, across the country and around the world the tools and the opportunities to grow and thrive. I look forward to meeting with business and government leaders in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan to strengthen our economic and cultural partnerships as we work together to forge the future of innovation.”

Cowen’s perspective

“Well, I think definitely we should be there,” said Mayor Cowen, in an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian.

“I do think it’s an opportunity to have that discussion with the Governor’s Office to make sure that the region is included going forward.”

Cowen said that with so many companies relocating from Asia to North America, the RioPlex region needs to be represented on important trade missions to that part of the world. RioPlex covers the Rio Grande Valley and Northern Tamaulipas.

“I think, obviously, with all the nearshoring that’s happening, we should be at the table to showcase what we offer as a region and how competitive we can be with for these projects,” Cowen said.

“I think we add a lot of value for the state of Texas and so I think it’s an opportunity that I will definitely try to bring up with the Governor’s Office but, with the initiative to form RioPlex, I think that’s a good opportunity to bring that up and to show how committed we are to going to market as a region.”

It was pointed out to Cowen that cities much smaller than the Valley were on the trip. He responded: “That’s just an opportunity we have right to continue to build that relationship with the state and making sure that we are at the table.”

Spamer’s perspective

Spamer, who runs CIL, chairs the CEO Group for Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez. As part of Cortez’s Prosperity Task Force, the CEO Group came up with the brand name RioPlex to market the region on the world stage.

When the Guardian pointed out to Spamer that the Valley had no representatives on Governor Abbott’s trip to Asia, he said: “That is a shame.”

Spamer continued: “We have huge talent in the Rio Grande Valley and huge talent in the northern part of Mexico, what we’re calling Rioplex, a region that includes the Mexican and the USA sides.

“That talent that have here should be playing all over the world. We have people in the EDCs, I could mention Raudel, Teclo, Steve, Victor, everyone. All of these are very good players. And we should be all playing together and going to different regions in the world looking for business just as Governor Abbott is doing. We should be there. We should be in that team. And that’s what we’re trying to make sure happens, that we are invited everywhere.”

The “Raudel” Spamer was talking about was Raudel Garza, executive director of Edinburg EDC. The “Teclo” Spamer was talking about was Teclo Garcia, CEO of Mission EDC. The “Steve” Spamer was talking about was Steve Valdez, executive director of Weslaco EDC. The “Victor” Spamer was talking about was Victor Perez, president of Pharr EDC.

“Each one of the economic development corporations, they all have their own voices,” Spamer said.

“Let’s say that we get invited next time around by Adriana (Cruz). They will say, we want someone from the Valley to come to, let’s say, Taiwan, for example. It would be great if we can pick and choose players that could represent RioPlex, the Valley, northern in Mexico, and the cities in Taiwan. That would be great. And I think we have the talent here to do so.”

Spamer said not every Valley city needs to be on the plane to Taiwan. Far from it.

“We don’t need every city to be represented on those trips. You just need some ambassadors. Ambassadors to Rioplex to go on those trade missions.”

Asked if the Valley’s EDCs should pool their resources to ensure the region does have enough money to go on expensive trips to Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan, Spamer said he was opposed to telling the Valley’s economic development groups what to do with their money.

“But let’s say you have a project. You’re going to Taiwan; the state is giving us two seats to go to Taiwan with the Governor. Then you pick and choose who can go. One time it might be Edinburg. Another time it might be the Port of Brownsville. Maybe you can take someone from Matamoros or Reynosa,” Spamer said.

“That’s why you have a team of ambassadors and each one of those ambassadors is capable of representing the region, like any other ambassador in the group. So those ambassadors, they pay for their own trip. That’s the way it works. (Someone might say) you know what, I don’t have money for this trip. Well, we take another ambassador. But when you start telling the cities or the EDOs what to do with their money, that’s when things stop working.”

Spamer said RioPlex is a brand name, not an alliance that has the funds to on a trade mission to Asia.

“What we’re doing with RioPlex is organizing a brand, a branding for the region. And it is being sponsored by some businessman. But that brand is going to be used by everyone. It is not costing anyone any money. So, you’re going to be able to use RioPlex when you are on a trade mission without having any cost. And that’s the idea. That’s the spirit.”

Spamer then revealed how the organizers behind RioPlex will raise funds for their marketing initiatives.

“We are actually going to be running some type of GoFundMe (project). So, people that want to put some money towards the development of the branding, can do so. But that’s not going to be imposed on anyone.”

So, bottom line, is the last time the Valley misses out on a huge statewide trade mission to key markets around the globe, Spamer was asked.

“Agreed,” he responded. “And I think if you talk to anyone in the Valley or anyone in Northern Mexico, they will say the same thing. We need to be represented. We have the talent, and we need to go to all those trade missions with the state.”

Among those on the Taiwan part of the Governor’s trip were:

Chairwoman Angie Chen Button
Senator Carol Alvarado
Senator Tan Parker
Representative Gio Capriglione
Representative Jacey Jetton
City of Amarillo Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Kevin Carter
The Borderplex Alliance Executive Vice President Marcos Delgado
Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Susan Davenport
Calpine CEO Thad Hill
CenterPoint Energy Executive Vice President, Regulatory Services & Government Affairs Jason Ryan
City of Dallas Office of Economic Development Assistant Director for Business & Community Development, Heather Lepeska
City of Dallas Economic Development Corporation President John Stephens
Dallas Regional Chamber Senior Vice President of Economic Development Mike Rosa
Development Corporation of Abilene President and CEO Misty Mayo
Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership Executive Vice President Jessica Heer
Frisco Economic Development Corporation Vice President Gloria Salinas
Greater Houston Partnership Senior Vice President for Economic Development Craig Rhodes
Greater San Marcos Partnership President and CEO Mike Kamerlander
greater:SATX President and CEO Jenna Saucedo-Herrera
Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President for Economic Development Kris Collins
Houston Airport System Deputy Director of Global Industry and Government Affairs Saba Abashawl
Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce Vice President of International Affairs Joe Chapa
Kilgore Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Lisa Denton
McKinney Economic Development Corporation President & CEO Michael Kowski
Opportunity Austin CEO Ed Latson
Ryan, LLC Principal-Credit Incentives Maher Maso
City of Temple Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Adrian Cannady
City of Victoria Economic Development Corporation President Jonas Titus

Editor’s Note: Here is an interview the Rio Grande Guardian secured with Mayor Cowen on June 9, 2024. He discusses Governor Abbott’s trip to Asia and efforts to secure more federal funding for Brownsville’s big desalination project.

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