City staff recommend creating international relations office to leverage Laredo's trade role

Jose Rodriguez, international relations coordinator with the Laredo Convention & Visitors Bureau, presented a practicum recommending the creation of a formal International Relations Office (IRO) within Laredo city government to coordinate cross-border engagement and boost trade and economic development.

Rodriguez said Laredo handled more than $319 billion in U.S.-Mexico trade in 2023 and argued that a dedicated office would help the city secure a larger role in subnational diplomacy and better coordinate with partners such as the Port of Laredo, the airport, bridge authorities and economic development entities. "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu," he quoted an expert in explaining the need for formal representation at cross-border and international forums.

Rodriguez described steps including city-council and city-management support, defining office responsibilities, securing funding, developing a strategic plan, and building collaboration across departments and local stakeholders. He said the city was already moving to open a related position and that the practicum aligned with that staffing plan.

Panelists and city officials in the room voiced support, noting the importance of promoting the port and the city's positive attributes. One city official clarified that while Laredo has long engaged with Mexican counterparts, the city is in a position to formalize and expand that work through the proposed office.

Ending: The panel praised the proposal and confirmed the city's parallel staffing action; no formal vote or ordinance was presented at the session.