Salinas' TV remarks attract businesses

Just hours after Mayor Raul Salinas appeared on national television Thursday touting Laredo's positive economic outlook, the Laredo Development Foundation reported it's already received calls from interested businessmen.

"Right after the telecast, we got a call from a company that, after hearing Mayor Salinas' comments on CNBC, contacted us about the possibility of buying land for warehouse space," said Roger Creery, executive director of Laredo Development Foundation.

"So that's an indicator that someone in the business community heard his message and that's a positive for us.

"Later Thursday afternoon, another prospect contacted us about doing business in Laredo," Creery said.

Salinas, appearing on CNBC's "Squawk On The Street" program via satellite from San Antonio, emphasized the importance of transportation issues for not only to the city but also the United States and its No. 2 trading partner, Mexico.

"One thing that we did recently was open up the World Trade Bridge 24 hours a day to help facilitate transportation and trade in a more efficient and effective way," Salinas said.

"What we are trying to do is move this trade more economically and efficiently. It's doing very well."

The Laredo mayor was en route Thursday to a meeting with President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and his Cabinet as part of a handful of mayors invited to Washington, D.C.

Regarding his national television appearance, Salinas said Thursday night, "It gave us an opportunity to showcase Laredo in a positive way.

Any time we can do this, even on a national level, (it) gives us a chance to bring more business to Laredo."

"We are working with the Obama administration to make sure more lanes become open in order to facilitate more trade with Mexico," Salinas said during CNBC's segment.

Creery said he believed Salinas "came across very well."

"I thought he did a great job being upbeat and positively portraying Laredo as a vibrant community doing well in these economic times," Creery said.

The mayor said 12,000-13,000 trucks and 1,200 rail cars go to and from Mexico every day.
"Freight forwarding, transportation and warehousing are so important to our city.

Right now, there's a need for more warehouses," he said.

"I'm looking forward to that. In fact, we had a recent City Council meeting where we get more requests for more space to build warehouses.

"We are the No. 1 land port and No. 8 air cargo area in the nation, so that's very important to our city and our nation."

Citing again a statistic reported earlier in Laredo Morning Times, Salinas said, "Forty percent of all trade between the U.S. and Mexico crosses through Laredo."

Creery said there were other parts of Salinas' appearance on national television that he appreciated, including the fact that "he was able to deliver a positive tone as we go out and market Laredo as a business-friendly community.

"I also appreciated him mentioning the 24-hour bridge," he said.

"Mayor Salinas talked with passion about our need to continue working on our relationship with Mexico. Initiatives like NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and CAFTA (Central America

Free Trade Agreement) are the lifeblood of our community, and if nobody else speaks up about them, then who will?"

Salinas said he was "very, very grateful" to CNBC for giving him a chance to "showcase the 'real' Laredo in a positive way."

"We have a vibrant city with people that want to work.

We certainly welcome the business factors in Laredo," he said.

"Any time we have investors that want to set up shop in Laredo, I'll make time to speak with them personally.

I'll see what incentives we can offer to businesses to come here.

If we can attract more business to Laredo, then that means more jobs."

When asked about having 50 cents per every retail dollar spent in Laredo being tied to Mexican shoppers, Salinas said, "We're working with President Obama to make sure that we get more lanes to become facilitators and not get congestion between Mexico.

"With Mexico as our No. 2 partner, it's important to maintain a good dialogue and maintain a positive attitude and promote a positive image."

(Joe Rutland may be reached at 728-2529 or jrutland@lmtonline.com)