Ariz. Gov says State Must Continue to Advance Economic Relationship with Mexico

In a speech last Saturday, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said the state must continue to push to be economically competitive by developing new roads and infrastructure, improved ports of entry and a secure border. The governor's remarks were part of a three-day symposium that focused heavily on trade and commerce between the Arizona and Sonora, Mexico.

"Everything we have done has been around competitiveness," said Margie Emmerman, executive director of the Arizona-Mexico Commission. "It's about what we need to do in order to have commerce and trade flow through our region. In this global world, it isn't one person we are competing against. It's a very tight market. It's everyone."

Mexico is Arizona's largest trading partner. The state exported $3.6 billion in the third quarter of 2010, Brewer said, adding that such an investment is "critical to continuing the trade growth between Arizona and Mexico."