Smart Border Coalition - Insights Newsletter October/November 2025

October/November 2025

SBC Stakeholder Working Group Meeting

Hosted by: Burnham Center for Community Advancement

The Smart Border Coalition held its Stakeholder Working Group meeting at the Burnham Center for Community Advancement on October 23rd, bringing together public and private leaders from both sides of the border to exchange updates and ideas on improving the Cali Baja region.

Presentations included:

CBX Update — Jorge Goytortua, CEO

Jorge shared a thoughtful look back at CBX’s first decade and how its evolution is shaping the next phase of cross-border travel. He highlighted new technology deployments such as the Enhanced Passenger Processing program and previewed upcoming infrastructure improvements that will further elevate the traveler experience.

CBP Trusted Traveler Team

CBP provided stakeholders with practical guidance on maintaining SENTRI and Global Entry accounts in good standing—an especially timely update as program enrollment and lane usage continues to grow.

Border Masters Podcast — Gustavo de la Fuente & Monique Casellas

An update on Border Masters, which is positioning itself to become the border region’s premier binational podcast.

The Smart Border Coalition thanks Burnham Center for Community Advancement for their hospitality and support in hosting this meeting.

RE:BORDER 2025 Conference

7th. Annual Edition - UABC Mexicali

SBC was proud to participate in this year’s RE:Border Conference, a binational forum hosted by SDSU and UABC that brings together researchers, policymakers, students, and community leaders to explore new approaches to U.S.–Mexico border challenges.

This year, the Smart Border Coalition joined the opening plenary panel: Building Bridges: Challenges, Opportunities, and Innovation in the Borderlands, which was moderated by UABC President, Dr. Luis Enrique Palafox

The session focused on strengthening binational ties through diplomacy, collaboration, and partnership to build sustainable communities. Panelists explored how immigration, economic mobility, binational education, and legal rights shape the well-being of borderland populations.

For more information on RE:Border click here

Coparmex National Conference - Binational Agenda

University Club San Diego

This year, the COPARMEX National Convention in Tijuana featured an important binational agenda, underscoring the region’s growing role in cross-border collaboration and economic integration.

SBC Executive Director Joaquín Luken delivered a keynote conference at the University Club, highlighting the pivotal importance of the CaliBaja region in the North American economy. The presentation emphasized how cross-border mobility, shared industries, and coordinated planning are shaping a more competitive and interconnected regional future.

The program continued with a consular conversation featuring Enrique Hernández of Procopio, representing U.S. Consul General Christopher Teal, and Ambassador Alicia Kerber Palma, Consul General of Mexico in San Diego. Both offered thoughtful perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the CaliBaja region, including workforce dynamics, trade flows, and the policies required to strengthen binational cooperation.

A special thanks to Roberto Vega, COPARMEX National President, for organizing such a timely and impactful gathering.

The convention concluded with a Hornblower dinner cruise along San Diego Bay—an exceptional evening that showcased the beauty of our region and was a memorable treat for visiting delegates.

Cali Baja Business Summit 2025

The CaliBaja Business Summit 2025 convened regional leaders, policymakers, innovators, and industry partners to strengthen cross-border collaboration and chart the next chapter for our shared region.

Discussions centered on building the future of a borderless economy, expanding cross-border entrepreneurship, and advancing infrastructure for global competitiveness.

SBC hosted the “Infrastructure for Global Competitiveness,” panel which featured:

• Jorge Goytortua, CEO of CBX

• Mario Orso, CEO of SANDAG

• Dr. Daniel Covarrubias, Texas A&M International University

The conversation underscored how technology, modernized ports of entry, and coordinated planning are essential to sustaining mobility and strengthening the economic resilience of both sides of the border.

The 2025 Summit reaffirmed a clear message: our region succeeds when we design and build our future together—one border, one region, one economy.

Released as part of the Cali Baja Business Summit, the new Binational Trade & Competitiveness Study (binationalsd.org) offers one of the most comprehensive assessments of the economic interdependence between San Diego and Tijuana. Developed by the San Diego World Trade Center and regional partners, the study highlights how our cross-border region continues to emerge as a binational engine for innovation, manufacturing, and global competitiveness.

The report analyzes trade patterns, workforce flows, supply-chain strengths, and the impact of border efficiency—providing a clear roadmap for how the CaliBaja region can maximize its role in North America’s economic future.

Key Takeaways

$95B+ in annual two-way trade, positioning CaliBaja among the most integrated border economies in the world.
A robust advanced manufacturing ecosystem, pairing U.S. research with Mexico’s production expertise.
Cross-border workers and students who play a crucial role in economic growth on both sides of the border.
Persistent border wait times that continue to impose major economic costs and require coordinated solutions.
A series of policy and investment recommendations that align with current regional priorities and upcoming North American competitiveness discussions.