SD-Tijuana delegation heads for Mexico City

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Tijuana Mayor Jorge Astiazarán are expected to join a binational delegation starting Sunday in Mexico City aimed at raising awareness of key issues in the cross-border region.

Led by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the 11th annual California-Mexico Trade Initiative takes place through Wednesday. More than 80 participants are scheduled to meet with top Mexican federal officials on a broad range of topics, including energy reform, immigration policy, environmental issues and foreign investment opportunities.

“We care about the economic and political relationship, and we will continue to strengthen it. That is our message,” said Paola Avila, vice president for international business affairs at the San Diego chamber.

The two highest priority issues for this year’s visit involve border infrastructure. Avila said that a “huge concern” is the timely opening of PedWest, a new pedestrian entrance at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. U.S. officials are prepared to begin operations in June, but the opening may be postponed because of delays on the Mexican side.

Mexican authorities earlier this year said they lacked funding to move forward, but they now say the funds have been guaranteed. Still, Avila said that uncertainty remains over Mexico’s ability to carry out the necessary adjustments in time for a June opening.

She said the other critical issue is Otay Mesa East, a planned port of entry for commercial and passenger vehicles that would be financed through tolls. The project requires close collaboration between the Mexican and U.S. governments.

As President Barack Obama is within months of leaving office, “we need to move this forward right now,” Avila said.

Among the officials scheduled to meet with the group are Mexican energy secretary Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, Mexican customs chief Carlos Treviño Chapa, tourism secretary Enrique Cordero de la Madrid, and Monica Aspe Bernal, subsecretary of communications and transportation.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com