Arizona and Mexico recently signed an agreement this week to further develop their trade corridor that connects Interstate 19 with Mexico’s Highway 15, with provisions tied to the planned Interstate 11 artery.
John Halikowski, director of the Arizona Department of Transportation Director, and Raul Murrieta Cummings, undersecretary of infrastructure for Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transport, signed a memo of understanding in Mexico City to create a planning committee to study how the corridor can be improved.
“Our efforts to strengthen the Arizona-Mexico relationship are already resulting in great success, including the signing of this agreement between ADOT and the Mexican federal Ministry of Communications and Transport,” Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said. “These efforts will grow our binational trade and make our freight and trade corridor one of the most competitive in the global market.”
Halikowski said the agreement will lead to better trade conditions for Arizona and Mexico.
“This is the culmination of years of building the right relationships and a continuation of Governor Ducey’s commitment to fostering a closer working relationship with Mexico,” Halikowski said. “Governor Ducey has challenged us to think big, to think as a business, and with this study, we will push our sphere of influence beyond the border, helping Arizona companies tap into new business opportunities in Mexico. This will also help us position our corridor as a viable, cost-effective alternative to the corridors connecting Mexico to the Texas border.”
