County economic development says targeted Oaxaca outreach yielded vendor leads; recommends matchmaking rather than a booth

El Paso County economic development staff reported Dec. 18 on an exploratory trade mission to Oaxaca’s Feria del Mezcal, describing 25-plus business-to-business meetings, curated lists of export-ready Oaxacan suppliers and discussions linking regional infrastructure to U.S. markets.

Mariana Barraza (National Affairs) said the mission’s objectives were exploratory and strategic: to assess whether a county booth at the 2026 Feria would generate measurable value and to identify suppliers that could match with El Paso buyers. "We held more than 25 B to B meetings with mezcal producers, artisans, chambers, and government entities," Barraza said, and the team vetted suppliers for export readiness.

Key outcomes: The delegation met with Mexico’s Corredor Interoceánico project manager and promoted Tornillo as a potential efficient port of entry for exports from southern Mexico. Staff concluded a formal county booth at the 2026 fair was not necessary; instead, Barraza recommended targeted producer visits, curated inbound matchmaking events in El Paso, and continued relationship building to support Mission Trail businesses interested in sourcing Oaxaca products.

Cost and follow-up: Commissioners asked about trip costs and return on investment. Roberto Ransom, director of the county’s Economic Development Department, said the department would provide cost details in a follow-up highlight and that the mission focused on curated supplier lists and matchmaking as tangible ROI. Commissioners asked staff to maintain a database or regular highlights to track long-term outcomes from the mission’s contacts.

Next steps: Economic development staff will circulate the vetted supplier list to local buyers, plan inbound matchmaking events in 2026, and provide periodic highlights on progress and costs.