Faulconer endorses Tijuana conference

With six months to go, leaders of the upcoming Tijuana Innovadora conference continued their push for endorsements from prominent San Diegans on Thursday — and found a champion in Mayor Kevin Faulconer.

“When it comes to our opportunities for San Diego and Tijuana, the sky’s the limit,” Faulconer told a gathering at the offices of the Smart Border Coalition, a binational group that lobbies for improved border crossings.

“That is one of the reasons I look forward to participating in Tijuana Innovadora and promoting it as we get closer to October,” said Faulconer, who was accompanied by Councilman David Alvarez.

Planners of the 11-day event, scheduled for Oct. 16 to 26, are aiming to strengthen cross-border participation this year as they highlight the achievements of Mexican-Americans.

Staged in 2010 and 2012 at the Tijuana Cultural Center, Cecut, the conference aims to shine a spotlight on Tijuana’s potential in broad range of areas — from manufacturing to cuisine to technology.

High-achieving Mexican-American speakers confirmed for the conference include Rosario Marin, the former U.S. treasurer who was born in Mexico City; and two physicians, Alfredo Quiñones, a Baja California native who is now a neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, and J Roberto Trujillo, a Mexico City-born neurovirologist who now heads a biotech company in Maryland.

Tijuana Innovadora was first staged in 2010 as the city struggled with drug-related violence and rising unemployment. In 2010 and 2012, the conference featured high-profile speakers, including former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim.

Organizers said that year’s conference will focus on three major areas: innovation and creativity; entrepreneurship and leadership; and the border region.

Tijuana Innovadora’s founder, Jose Galicot, told Faulconer that as soon as the event is over, his organization is prepared to help San Diego plan celebrations for the 2015 Balboa Park centennial, which has been plagued by financial and organizational problems.

“We’re going to commit all our team, all our efforts to work for San Diego in the Balboa Park effort,” Galicot said.