Rio South Texas Region: The Best of the United States and Mexico in One Region

Due to its strategic location, solid infrastructure, and business development opportunities, the South Texas and Northern Tamaulipas region has become one of the main destinations for companies seeking to establish or expand their manufacturing operations.  

Made up of 16 cities in 7 counties in South Texas and 10 municipalities in Northern Tamaulipas, Rio South Texas Region consolidates as one of the most dynamic trade and economic corridors, with extensive road infrastructure and connectivity through 9 international airports, 3 seaports, and 10 international commercial bridges. This has driven the development of 141 industrial parks on both sides of the border.  

The cities that make up the Rio South Texas Region on the U.S. side are:  

• Laredo  

• Hebbronville  

• Zapata  

• Roma  

• Rio Grande  

• Mission  

• Edinburg  

• McAllen  

• Pharr  

• Donna  

• Weslaco  

• Raymondville  

• Mercedes  

• Harlingen  

• San Benito  

• Brownsville  

On the Mexican side, the cities are:  

• Nuevo Laredo  

• Nueva Ciudad Guerrero  

• Mier  

• Miguel Alemán  

• Camargo  

• Gustavo Díaz Ordaz  

• Reynosa  

• Río Bravo  

• Valle Hermoso  

• Matamoros  

"At COSTEP, we want Rio South Texas Region to be more than just a trade corridor. What we are doing is attracting companies that offer better salaries, which require a bit more education so that the young people studying here stay, given there will be more specialized, better-paid jobs that align with the education they have," said Adam González, CEO of COSTEP.  

Among the advantages Rio South Texas Region offers foreign companies seeking to relocate or expand their operations are its strategic location for manufacturing and trade, a thriving workforce, extensive infrastructure, and a favorable business environment, in addition to industrial diversity spanning the automotive, energy, aerospace, and medical sectors.  

For González, these advantages are highly attractive to companies based in the northern United States, whose workforce is already nearing retirement age, while in Texas, the workforce is among the youngest in the country. This allows COSTEP to promote the region as a destination rather than just a route.  

Through its familiarization tours, COSTEP works with advisors or representatives from companies looking to relocate, providing them with a tour to get to know the region, visit the various municipalities or cities where they could set up, and talk with established business owners who share their experiences operating on both sides of the border.  

"It’s all these available resources on both sides of the border that make it attractive for companies looking to set up here. Our job is done once the company decides to establish itself somewhere in our region, and we connect them with economic development organizations so they can sign and start producing."  

Once the connection with the economic development corporations of the cities or municipalities is made, COSTEP continues its work by seeking and attracting more companies through the joint promotion of South Texas and Northern Tamaulipas as the Rio South Texas Region.