About

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - The Rio South Texas Economic Council is a nonprofit membership organization that brings together the economic development interests of the cities, counties, chambers and educational institutions, workforce boards, ports, businesses and other stakeholders working towards regionally prosperity. Our mission is to successfully promote the economic expansion and diversification of communities in the Rio South Texas region by enhancing the knowledge of the area’s many assets among potential investors, fostering growth of the local economy and enhancing competitiveness to attract capital investment and jobs. RSTEC aims to transform the economic reality of the region by facilitating the expansion of value-added industries to the attraction of foreign direct investments or FDI, with the goal of proving the region’s residents with economic opportunities. We hope to accomplish by serving as the tip of the spear for the region’s economic development marketing efforts, filling existing white space by developing relationships, value added industry thought leaders, decision influencers and decision-makers from global markets under-represented in the region. RSTEC develops these relationships by engaging them in their organizations, conferences, trade shows, in other words on their home turf. RSTEC builds their understanding of the region through one-on-one conversations as well as by bringing them into the region for tours and site visits, where they in turn are connected with RSTEC council members. Founded in 2008 and continuously evolving since, RSTEC activities have made significant strides since it adopted its current strategic direction in 2016 which is focused on developing a platform for the attraction of foreign direct investment, which has in itself evolved with each successful annual program of work. And RSTEC plans to build on it for the remainder of 2021. Editor's Note: The above commentary was given by René Xavier González, executive director of the Rio South Texas Economic Council during a webinar that featured a virtual tour of the Rio Grande Valley's industrial parks. The attached podcast features the webinar. Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website to read the full story.