News
2021-05-07_BTI Quicksheet Presentation
The Borders, Trade, and Immigration (BTI) Institute, a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, conducts and transitions research, develops innovative solutions, and provides education that enhances the Nation’s ability to secure the borders, facilitate legitimate trade and travel, and ensure the integrity of the immigration system.
The Hunt Institute was awarded a contract by Border, Trade, and Immigration Institute to build a comprehensive data mapping of the impacts that border security deployments and regulatory changes have had, and which future ones could have, on the social and economic conditions of communities in the El Paso Sector.
Mayra Maldonado, Interim Director of the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness, was invited to give a presentation on the Mapping Tool at BTI’s Annual Meeting. The mapping tool was specifically developed for the BTI institute in order to respond to the need to share strategic information about the border and historical migration trends. It efficiently helps people understand data, offering a revolutionary new approach to provide intelligence, visualizing socio-economic indicators in the geographic area that comprehends the counties of El Paso, Hudspeth in Texas, as well as Doña Ana, Hidalgo, and Luna in New Mexico.
BTI’s Annual Meeting took place on May 4 – 6, 2021, focusing on the outcomes of different research projects attending from across the US that present their project methodologies, project accomplishments, and overall deliverables. To learn more about BTI’s annual meeting, please visit the following link: https://uh.edu/bti/annualmeeting2021/
Study: Manufacturing leads economic recovery in border region
by: Julian Resendiz
Posted: Sep 21, 2020 / 05:26 PM GMT-0600 / Updated: Sep 22, 2020 / 02:40 PM GMT-0600
EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – With manufacturing plants back at work, Juarez, Mexico is leading the jobs recovery in the greater El Paso region.
The latest Hunt Institute’s Paso del Norte Economic Indicator Review shows that non-farm employment increased only slightly in El Paso from June to July, continued falling in Las Cruces, New Mexico, but spiked almost 2% in Juarez. That’s more than an 8,300 month-to-month job gain for El Paso’s sister city across the border.
“In Ciudad Juarez, all employment sectors, except services, increased on a monthly basis led by manufacturing,” the study says. El Paso gained 400 manufacturing and 300 services jobs in July but lost 200 related to construction and trades; Las Cruces, N.M., lost about 1,300 services, construction and transportation jobs.
Though all three cities experienced job losses in the first six months of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Juarez at the end of July nearly bounced back to employment levels from a year ago, according to the study.
Many factories south of the border stayed open with reduced staffing through the pandemic, but the Mexican government on June 1 gave those in the automotive, medical and other critical sectors a green light to expand operations.
Industry experts on both sides of the border concur that economic activity is picking up.
Jon Barela, CEO of the Borderplex Alliance
“We are seeing an economic recovery in manufacturing in Juarez and, to a certain degree in El Paso and Dona Aña county (New Mexico). This is due to the critical needs of consumers during this pandemic. Personal protective equipment, medical device manufacturing and the transportation sectors are all deemed essential, and that is giving us a recovery,” said Jon Barela, CEO of the Borderplex Alliance.
When factories resume production in Juarez, El Paso transportation, logistics and warehousing operations also get back to work, he said.
In Juarez, meantime, “economic activity is increasing day by day. You can see more cars on the streets, more semis headed (to El Paso),” said Arturo Galindo, who tracks economic statistics at the Juarez Chamber of Manufacturing. “Activity at shopping centers and even tourism is coming back, slowly but steadily.”
U.S.-run plants known here as maquiladoras make the bulk, but not all, of the manufacturing operations in Juarez. They directly employ more than a quarter of a million people. The maquiladoras are still down jobs since the pandemic, but experts expect they will reach pre-coronavirus employment levels soon.
“We still have a number of people hurting from this economic crisis, but I’m optimistic that the job creation momentum that we are seeing in the region will continue on both sides of the border,” Barela said. “As manufacturing leads the way for recovery, we will see other sectors following suit. Clearly, the warehousing, logistics and transportation sectors will benefit as they transport these items being manufactured in plants on both sides of the border.”
He added the El Paso-Juarez-Las Cruces region’s job and economic prospects were growing prior to the pandemic and that he expects that trend to continue taking off as the COVID-19 crisis passes.
“Our region will lead the economic recovery in both Mexico and the United States,” he said. “We continued to develop and create thousands of new jobs, especially in the manufacturing sector, prior to the COVID crisis. Now, it’s reshoring opportunities from other parts of Asia. We have a golden opportunity to continue the momentum.”
Mexico – U.S. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Council (MUSEIC), 6th Annual Meeting
On April 27, 2018, The Hunt Institute hosted the Mexico – U.S. Entrepreneurship and Innovation Council (MUSEIC), 6th Annual Meeting at The University of Texas at El Paso.
Representatives from the U.S. Department of State, the Secretaría de Economía in Mexico, and various private sector leaders from across the U.S. and Mexico gathered to discuss and draft a working plan for the Hunt Institute’s future years as the Technical Secretariat. The Annual Meeting also provided an framework for the new structure of MUSEIC.
Mayra Maldonado conducted all proceedings and drafted a new working plan for the Council. As a result of this meeting, a consensus was made to restructure MUSEIC and move forward with the proposed three working groups:
- MSMEs - Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
- Women’s Economic Empowerment
- High Impact Innovation.
Each workgroup would be led by Co-Chairs responsible for implementing each of the projects according to the mission of MUSEIC.
Established in May 2013, MUSEIC is one of the key initiatives to strengthen the binational ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation in Mexico and the United States. It aims to increase competitiveness and economic and social development between the two nations. MUSEIC operates as a public-private partnership that integrates collaboration between Mexican and U.S. government representatives, entrepreneurs, organizations that support entrepreneurship and innovation, investment funds, and academia.
Goals and Objectives of the New Structure of MUSEIC Meeting
On June 27, 2019 The Hunt Institute, serving in its capacity as MUSEIC’s Technical Secretariat, led a meeting to brief the incoming Mexican administration on the goals and objectives of the new structure of MUSEIC. The meeting was held in Mexico City at the offices of the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was led by Mayra Maldonado, Associate Director of the Hunt Institute, and moderated by Ambassador Jesus Mario Chacon, head of the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, who covered the structure, results, past activities, and timeline for future events and projects of MUSEIC.
Representatives from the Secretariat of Economy, the U.S. Embassy, and the U.S Department of State participated in this meeting in addition to the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, and Hunt Institute staff.
As the next steps, members agreed on starting the nomination process for Co-Chairs for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the Women’s Economic Empowerment, and the High Impact Innovation workgroups.
Members also agreed to coordinate a high-level economic dialogue meeting in November 2019 to begin setting goals and deliverables of the new workgroup structure.
All Mexico - U.S. Sister Cities Mayors Summit
The All Mexico - U.S. Sister Cities Mayors Summit took place in Guadalajara from February 15-17, 2018.
Mayra Maldonado, Associate Director of The Hunt Institute, moderated the panel “Business and Economy: Innovation and Economic Integration Opportunities in North America from the Local Perspective.” The purpose of this panel was to revitalize diplomatic relationships, and launch new and innovative programs between Sister Cities members.
Over 300 participated in this event including representatives from the City of El Paso El Paso and The Hunt Institute.
During this summit, over 60 mayors met to build citizen diplomatic relationships, create continuity in the Sister City membership, and foster networking efforts of cities and businesses.
Sister Cities International is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, which serves as the national membership organization for individual sister cities, counties, and states across the United States. This network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers in nearly 500 member communities with over 2,000 partnerships in more than 140 countries to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation—one individual, one community at a time.
For more information about this event, click here.
The Sister Cities International 2019 Conference
The Sister Cities International 2019 Conference took place in Houston, TX on July 17-19, 2019.
Roberto Ransom, Operations Director of The Hunt Institute, chaired the “U.S.-Mexico Summit” trade panel. Panelists included Allan Russell, Chairman of the Board, CEO, and Co-founder at TECMA; Daniel Dominguez, President and CEO of Flutec LP; and Jose Luis Valencia Montano, Vice President and Managing Partner for PRO-VERA-EXPORT. Topics discussed were relevant to issues currently impacting the U.S.-Mexico border, the ports of entry, and the trade flows between the U.S - Mexico.
Panelists reiterated the economic vibrancy and importance of the U.S.-Mexico border as an international gateway and urged policymakers to combine efforts at the local, regional, and binational levels to craft strong policies that raise competitiveness in the border region in the industrial and service sectors.
Over 500 delegates attended the summit held in Houston. Topics from other panels included:
- All day Wednesday: Africa Symposium and US-China Mayors’ Summit
- Active participation from mayors from around the world with special sessions on Africa, China, Mexico, Japan and Germany
- Cities highlighting strong NxtGen and Woman Entrepreneurship
- Emerging Issues, such as Innovation Through Adversity, Resilience and Disinformation
- Partnership models with global organizations such as Rotary International, CLAIR, National League of Cities, UNICEF
- Fast-track and how-to sessions on Business of Sports, Arts and Culture; Unique Port Cities
For more information about this event click here.
Hunt Institute Associate Director Joins Economic Development Panel
Mayra Maldonado, associate director of UTEP’s Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness, was a panelist at the Mexico - U.S. Sister Cities Mayors’ Summit on Feb. 27, 2020 in El Paso, Texas.
The 2020 Mexico - U.S. Sister Cities Mayors’ Summit was the fourth in a series of bi-national summits organized by the Sister Cities International Network. This summit brought together mayors, municipal officials, business leaders, academics, and civic leaders to engage citizen diplomats in El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.
The summit hosted various information sessions and forums with industry leaders, allowing attendees to socialize, network, and discuss border-related topics and engage in citizen diplomacy. Panels covered several topics ranging from cross-border journalism, strengthening the bi-national economy through investments in education and workforce, and the role of sports in diplomacy.
Mayra Maldonado was invited to participate on an economic development panel discussing post-NAFTA effects on international trade, foreign direct investment, and manufacturing at the regional, domestic, and global scale. She was joined by Ruth Hughs, Texas Secretary of State; Allan Russell, chairman of the board and CEO of TECMA; and Juan Antonio Flores, executive vice president for government affairs at Port San Antonio. This panel was moderated by Claudia Arias, senior vice president from BBVA Compass.
Mayra Maldonado leads the Hunt Institute’s work on bi-national, comparative commercial and financial analysis. She has worked as an economist at the Central Bank of Mexico, where she led the economic and financial analysis of Mexico’s northeastern border region, and its linkages with the rest of Mexico and the United States. Maldonado has also worked for Morgan Stanley Capital International, where she led the Americas Index Research and Corporate Actions team based in Mumbai, India and Monterrey, Mexico. During her time there, she specialized in the analysis of inter-American financial markets inequities.
The Hunt Institute is a think tank created to develop economic frameworks to analyze the institutional and regulatory structures that influence the quality of life of millions of people in the Paso del Norte region.
Watch the Sister Cities Mayors Summit
True Derisking: Creating a Common Frame of Reference for U.S. - Mexico Financial Transactions
The U.S.-Mexico border region, at the crossroads of an ever-accelerating bilateral trade, has simultaneously become a significant high-risk area for money laundering activities, posing challenges not only to local economic stability but also to regional and national security.
In order to mitigate these threats at a national level, the U.S. government, through legislation such as the Patriot Act and the Bank Secrecy Act, and other federal anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, requires banks to monitor, investigate, and report any suspicious activity.
June 12, 2019
Panel discusses trade war's effects on New Mexico
SANTA FE – New Mexico – a critical crossroads for global trade – has much at stake as tariffs, Brexit and other political conflicts shape the world economy, a panel of experts said Friday.
In a luncheon briefing held by the Santa Fe Council on International Relations, the panelists highlighted New Mexico’s role – often out of sight for many residents – as an international trade route both for overseas goods that arrive at a California port and then move eastward, and for goods transported north from Mexico.
June 8, 2019
Economist increasing global connections and growth for the heart of North America
An economist specializing in international trade and leading a university-based research center, Patrick Schaefer(USA/Zhi-Xing ’18) forged a partnership with China’s premier government think tank, the Shanghai International Shipping Institute. Patrick’s center — the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness at the University of Texas, El Paso — produced research for the Shipping Institute that put the bi-national Paso del Norte region (which includes Texas, New Mexico and northern regions in Mexico) on the map as a major influential trade hub that is significantly impacted by recent trade wars between China and the U.S.
The data will be used by local, state and federal decision-makers who are at the helm of opening opportunities that will strengthen economic growth in the U.S. and China.
April 29, 2019
Panel: Digital trade missed by original NAFTA can no longer be ignored [Austin American-Statesman]
A key factor that should be discussed when renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement isn’t even in the original agreement, according to Google’s public policy manager, Kate Sheerin.
NAFTA 2.0 needs to evolve with the times by addressing the digital trade and economy, according to representatives from Mexico, the United States and the tech industry. It should reflect how the “economy now is globally digitized,” said Patrick Schaefer, executive director of the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness.
Sheerin and Schaefer were among the panelists who spoke at South by Southwest Interactive’s Casa México session that focused on the gains and shortcomings of the 24-year-old trade pact among the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The panel discussed how NAFTA should modernize in the face of digital advances that have changed trade.
Mar 11, 2018
El Paso Prime Time: The Hunt Institute [KTEP]
Guest host Richard Dayoub of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce chats with Patrick Schaefer, the new executive director of the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness. The institute is located on the UTEP campus and collects and maps data on the Borderplex region, which consists of Southern New Mexico, West Texas, and Northern Chihuahua. The Paso del Norte trade route was a north-south and east-west trade route for centuries, and it remains so to this day. The Hunt Institute aims to find solutions to facilitate cooperation between the two nations.
Mar 12, 2016
Hunt Institute: Borderland’s unique location could bring in dollars [KVIA]
EL PASO, Texas – The Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness wants to help the City of El Paso increase the region’s economic development.
At the request of Rep. Alexsandra Annello, Patrick Schaefer, the Institute’s executive director, shared research and market analysis tools for the Paso del Norte Region with City Council and Mayor Dee Margo.
Schaefer told the Council it’s important for officials in El Paso, Southern New Mexico and the Chihuahua area to think collaboratively.
Jan 8, 2018
América del Norte permanecerá aún sin el TLCAN: analista [Informador.mx]
La región de América del Norte se mantendrá unida aunque se cancele el Tratado de Libre Comercio por las relaciones económicas, entre las empresas y personales de sus habitantantes. Así lo indicó Alan Bersin de Wilson Center quien participará en el II Seminario Internacional Aspen-FIL este día.
Nov 28, 2017
Building Bridges [St. John’s College]
Living a handful of miles from people with a different system of government, set of cultural practices, lifestyle ideals, language, and regulatory systems, can be challenging. In fact, according to Patrick Schaefer (A00), the set-up tends to engender distrust. But he thinks he can help.
Nov 7, 2017
The Godfather of Mexican Manufacturing Couldn’t Care Less About Donald Trump [Bloomberg]
In Ciudad Juárez, along the U.S.-Mexico border at the foot of the Sierra Madre, a dark blue Range Rover winds through the empire built by Jaime Bermúdez Cuarón. The vehicle is carrying two of the 94-year-old real estate magnate’s sons and two of his adult grandchildren; bodyguards follow in two cars. Juárez isn’t besieged by drug cartel violence quite like it was a decade ago, but the elite are still targets. And the Bermúdezes, who’ve amassed a fortune establishing Mexico’s central role in the rise of globalization, are most definitely elite.
Oct 12, 2017
El Paso-Juárez ideal for energy hub, experts say [El Paso Times]
Mexico’s opening of its energy markets to private companies could bring an economic boost to the El Paso-Juárez region by making this area a cross-border energy hub, energy experts say.
Aug 31, 2017
Los caminos de Slim, Trump y la CFE se cruzan en la frontera con EU [El Financiero]
Los caminos de Donald Trump, Carlos Slim y la Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) se cruzan en la frontera de México con Estados Unidos, en la zona donde el presidente asegura que construirá un muro que pagará su vecino del sur.
Jan 27, 2017
Hunt Institute Director Part of Bi-National Energy Forum [UTEP]
Patrick Schaefer, executive director of UTEP’s Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness, was a panelist at the U.S.-Mexico Energy Forum on Dec. 9, 2016, at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center in The Woodlands, Texas.
Jan 8, 2017
El Paso City Council postpones vote on $10 minimum wage for City contractors [KVIA]
Patrick Schaefer, executive director of UTEP’s Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness, was a panelist at the U.S.-Mexico Energy Forum on Dec. 9, 2016, at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center in The Woodlands, Texas.
Nov 28, 2016
El Paso City Council postpones vote on $10 minimum wage for City contractors [KVIA]
Patrick Schaefer, executive director of UTEP’s Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness, was a panelist at the U.S.-Mexico Energy Forum on Dec. 9, 2016, at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center in The Woodlands, Texas.
Nov 28, 2016
UTEP’s Hunt Institute Releases Landmark Energy Report [El Paso Herald-Post]
The University of Texas at El Paso’s Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness has released a first-of-its-kind report that clarifies the region’s structure and regulation of energy resources.
The groundbreaking Paso del Norte Energy Sector Review offers details and comparisons of the economic structures that govern U.S. and Mexican energy markets and impact the bi-national economies around West Texas, southern New Mexico and northern Mexico.
Nov 20, 2016
Fronteras 615: Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness – Patrick Schaefer
Fronteras host Monica Ortiz-Uribe discusses with the Executive Director of the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness, Patrick Schaefer. The Hunt Institute does research on understanding the energy resources available in the Tri-state area and finding solutions for the various energy resources that can benefit everyone in the region.
Security Management: Beyond the Border Security Discussion [ASIS International]
Patrick Schaefer, executive director of the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness, discusses the challenges of studying the U.S.-Mexico border, and how his organization uses data to inform stakeholders on everything from public health to commerce and security.
Mar 30, 2016
Workers in Mexico’s border factories say they can barely survive, so they’re turning to unions [WLRN]
A study by the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness at the University of Texas at El Paso shows factory wages in Juárez are among the lowest in Mexico, and plant manager salaries are among the highest. When compared to manufacturing wages in China, Mexico is now 40 percent cheaper.
Mar 1, 2016
Border leaders say progress is being made [El Paso Inc.]
There is a lack of understanding in Washington, D.C. about the border that is undercutting the region’s ability to grow and solve the problems that have long plagued the region, U.S. Rep. William Hurd, R-Texas, said last week during the U.S.-Mexico Summit.
“If people don’t understand it, you can’t have a serious conversation about it and can’t come up with solutions and action,” said Hurd, whose district stretches from El Paso to San Antonio.
But Hurd – and other border leaders who echoed his comments – also expressed optimism that progress is being made. New programs, technology and infrastructure investments are decreasing wait times and speeding trade, they said. Perceptions are also slowly changing as the Hispanic population in the United States grows.
Aug 10, 2015
September 2016, Speaker Series: Mónica Ortiz-Uribe
On September 30, 2016, guest speaker Mónica Ortiz-Uribe, Senior Field Correspondent for KJZZ’s (NPR affiliate station in Phoenix) Fronteras Desk discussed the “Industrial Labor Issues in Mexico” from a journalist’s point of view, with a specific focus on Ciudad Juarez.
Border Crossing Research Visioning Meeting
On September 16, 2016, the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness and the Center for Inter-American Border Studies organized a Border Crossing Research Visioning meeting on the nexus of issues involved in ordinary border crossing activities. This meeting brought together community representatives from public organizations, NGO’s and academia to share their views on the dynamics of the border. Participants explored possible research projects to develop methods for improving crossing times, reducing environmental impacts, and implementing mechanisms for effective border management.
April 2016 Speaker Series: Ioan Grillo
An English journalist and writer based in Mexico City, Ioan Grillo has been reporting on the Mexican Drug War the Latin American illegal drug trade since 2001. He is the author of the books “Gangster Warlords: Drug Dollars”, “Killing Fields”, “The New Politics of Latin America”, and “El Narco: Inside Mexico’s Criminal Insurgency”.
Book Presentation: Ambassador Miguel Basañez
On February 23, 2016 The Hunt Institute, in collaboration with the Center for Inter-American Border Studies and the Consulate General of Mexico in El Paso, hosted the book presentation of the Mexican Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Miguel Basañez, entitled “A World of Three Cultures”. The book examines the impact of culture on global development. by drawing on extensive quantitative data, the author identifies three “hyper clusters” of culture in the world: honor, achievement and joy.
Book: A World Of Three Cultures
January 2016 Speaker Series: Victor Aguirre López
The first of our Speaker Series of 2016, took place in January. “The Legal and Financial Concerns of Entrepreneurs in Mexico”, presented by Victor Aguirre López from Mexico City. Brought together stakeholders from public and private organizations in charge of promoting entrepreneurialism in our region, research institutes, incubators, business students, local businesses and start-ups. This presentation explained the legal and financial start-up environment in Mexico City.
