The Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development
will remain open and continue to operate following guidelines and limitations as described in the TAMIU Campus Covid-19 Guidance
For up-to-date campus information, please visit the TAMIU COVID-19 Response Website
The A.R. Sanchez, Jr. School of Business' Texas Center provides leadership and support to South Texas border communities in their economic development efforts, including activities in the areas of business development, education, health care, public administration, and the environment.
Specialized statistics and information about:
U.S.-Mexico Trade Activity through the U.S. south border Ports of Entry,
South Texas Regional Economic Indicators and International Bridge crossings information through South Texas Border, as well as several production statisticis of the Eagle Ford Shale area.
The Texas Center encourages and supports TAMIU faculty research activities that produce practical and timely information that can be used by local, regional, state an national decision makers, as well as, specialized tecnical reports on border economic issues to meet the social and economic needs of the South Texas border region.
The Texas Center's ongoing work with business and community organizations will result in a variety of collaborative publications and materials that focus on border-related economic statistics and information for the South Texas region.
Visit us periodically and see what is new
Dr. Daniel Covarrubias
Texas Center Director
OP-ED Article by Texas Center Director Daniel Covarrubias
(published in the Laredo Morning Times on Sep 13, 2021)
For over half a century, Port Laredo has been recognized as the predominant inland port on the United States and Mexico border. Undoubtedly, its privileged geographic location at the center of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) corridor (connecting Mexico, the United States, and Canada) has contributed significantly to the success of this border region. Billions of trade dollars for vehicles, vehicle parts, electronics, chemicals, agribusiness, mineral fuels, and beverages, among other products, clear customs every year through Port Laredo via trucks and containers that travel millions of miles.
World-class supply chains and clusters, such as the Mexican and Michigan automotive clusters, depend on this region's infrastructure to efficiently process their auto parts and finished goods, consequently allowing these clusters to ensure that their goods and services will safely arrive at their destinations and reduce their time-to-market and costs.
The Handbook is presented by the Government of the City of Laredo, Texas through the Institute for Competitiveness and Foreign Trade of Nuevo Laredo (ICCE), in conjnction with the Laredo Economic Development Corporation, the Laredo Chamber of Commerce, and the Texas Center for Border Economic and Enterprise Development of Texas A&M International University.
The Bi-National Socioeconomic Handbook (BSH) of the "Laredos Region" incorporates demographics, social, and economic data of the cities of Nuevo Laredo, TAM in Mexico and Laredo, TX in the U.S., with the purpose of illustrating the development potential of the region at a national and international level.
The Handbook is presented in both English and Spanish. These and previoius versions are available by clicking on the button below
Laredo Socioeconomic Handbooks
Presentation by Daniel Covarrubias, Ph.D.
(Presented to to the INDU TWIN Bachelor Program on Aug 24, 2021)
Sophisticated customers in the US and manufacturing clusters in Mexico with recurring needs (i.e. carriers and customs agents) demanding cross-border transport security requirements, requiring specialized activity, and a need for support services for commercial activity and transport
Presentation by Daniel Covarrubias, Ph.D.
(Presented to to the LEDC Membership Conference on Aug 11, 2021)
Today, we see how strategic planning moves from a planning concept to a constant adaptation concept; therefore, companies and organizations must adapt quickly and fit systematically to this new reality. Today’s talk will focus on one alternative companies are exploring to further their competitiveness and efficiency: Logistics 4.0.
News Article Interview of Texas Center Director Daniel Covarrubias
(published in the Laredo Morning Times on Aug 9, 2021)
Severe weather, port blockages and microchip shortages are wreaking havoc on U.S. auto production.
The pandemic created the perfect storm for the microchip market and supply chain. It all began with the microchip factories closing overseas when the lockdowns due to the pandemic started. This created backlogs when they reopened. Add to this that the auto sector miscalculated its microchip demand because of weak sales during the pandemic and a faster economic recovery than they were expecting.
OP-ED Article by Texas Center Director Daniel Covarrubias
(published in the Laredo Morning Times on Jul 12, 2021)
We live in one of the most dynamic logistics regions in the world, Port Laredo. Port Laredo is the No. 1 inland port on the United States and Mexico border. According to data compiled by the Texas A&M International University Texas Center, every year, more than 4.5 million trucks, representing over 400 billion dollars in trade, are efficiently managed through this border crossing.
Many businesses in our region are directly involved in global supply chains and have recently been impacted by different supply chain strains that have arisen from a great variety of sources: weather, port backlogs, computer chips and material shortages, among others. Together with technological advances and changes in international trade policies, these supply chain woes have forced global companies to reevaluate their competitive advantages. Today we'll present one alternative that companies are exploring to further their competitiveness and efficiency: Logistics 4.0.