Business Leaders, University Of Texas Forge Connections With Mexico

MEXICO CITY — High in the hills overlooking this city, a packed room of about 500 University of Texas officials, Austin business leaders and Mexican alumni raised their hands in a Hook 'em Horns sign and belted out the "Eyes of Texas."

The Thursday night reception at the home of U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza — also a UT alum — marked what officials hope will be the beginning of a new level of Central Texas cooperation with Mexico, a relationship they say will bear academic, as well as economic, fruit.

"This signals the beginning of a new era," UT President William Powers told the crowd. "Now we are ready to accelerate the pace."

Powers led a high-powered delegation to the Mexican capital that included state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, state Rep. Pete Gallego, D-Alpine, as well as business leaders from Austin's real estate, law, and technology sectors.

The two-day networking trip focused on UT alumni in Mexico, an increasingly powerful group of more than 1,200, many of whom have become business and academic leaders. And as the university seeks to strengthen its relationship with Mexican alumni, the Austin business community stands to benefit, participants said.

"We see this as a chance to connect with these companies through UT," said Adriana Cruz, vice-president of global corporate recruitment for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. "I'm letting Mexican businesses know Austin would be an ideal location for them in North America."

Carlos Valencia Barrera, a UT graduate and attorney with the Austin law firm Thompson and Knight's Mexico City office, said fellow alumni are strategically placed in prominent Mexican companies and think tanks.

"We've climbed up the ladder of politics, business and academics," he said. "It's not just quantity, but quality."

The law firm sponsored the trip, which included a Friday breakfast meeting, along with the university and the International Partnership of Greater Austin.

Participants said a healthy amount of deal making went down at Thursday's reception, described by some as one of the largest events ever at Garza's residence.

Carol Thompson, president of an Austin consulting firm, said she met with exporters and other UT alumni eager to do business in Austin. "The right people are here at the right time," she said.

And while other Texas cities like Houston and San Antonio may have more name recognition in Mexico, Austin's Consul General Jorge Guajardo said the trip would go a long way in raising the region's profile. "This shows the level of importance (Austin area leaders) are putting on the relationship," Guajardo said.

Powers also pledged to increase UT's commitment to Mexico-based programs and exchanges. The university already has about 60 Mexico scholars as well as numerous programs, including a business degree program for Mexican professionals.

"It's vitally important that our ties remain close," Powers said Thursday night. "To be perfectly candid we need to do more and I'm here to pledge to you that we will do more to strengthen and expand our relationship with Mexico."

Several participants said they're hoping for more multi-disciplinary trips south of the border, perhaps a maquiladora-based encounter in Monterrey.

"We need to figure out how we go about enhancing and growing this regional economy," Watson said.