Nelson Balido
Border Trade Alliance Conducts High-Level Meetings with Mexican Customs Officials
BTA shares ideas for improving U.S. – Mexico trade in Mexico City Meetings
SAN ANTONIO- Border Trade Alliance leaders recently held high-level talks with Mexican customs officials in Mexico City where the parties discussed ways to improve trade facilitation across the U.S.-Mexico border. The Aduanas officials also agreed to meet with BTA on a regular basis to ensure that these productive discussions continue.
BTA Chair Kathy Neal and BTA President Nelson Balido led the discussions that centered on how the U.S. and Mexico can work collaboratively to find new ways to expedite trade and travel and strengthen the border region economy.
The BTA also interfaced with an economics officer from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City to round out the group’s visit to the Mexican capital.
The meetings took place at Mexico’s Aduanas headquarters where officials received Neal, Balido and BTA Executive Committee Member Teclo J. Garcia, who represented the City of McAllen. The meetings were the result of several months of planning utilizing the BTA’s unique relationships in Mexico and with officials at the Mexican Embassy in Washington, D.C.
All told, the BTA visited with eight officials from the Administración General de Aduanas.
The BTA was able to present to the Mexican leaders an overview of the BTA’s mission, a discussion of how the organization functions and how it can help foster talks and relationships in the U.S.
Additionally, the BTA raised several issues directly concerning security, human resources and infrastructure challenges at crossing points along the border. Mexican Customs was able to present to the BTA its plans for border crossings in the future and gave status reports on port security programs it has recently installed.
The diplomatic but frank conversations were appreciated by both sides. The Customs leaders agreed to meet with the BTA regularly and continue the open dialogue with the organization’s leadership.
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About the Border Trade Alliance:
Since 1986, the BTA has served as a grassroots, non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion and advocacy on issues pertaining to the environment, border development, quality of life and trade in the Americas. A network of public and private sector representatives from the United States, Mexico and Canada, BTA’s core values include a commitment to improving the quality of life of border communities through trade and commerce.
Nelson Balido Named New Border Trade Alliance President
Leading border trade group taps former DHS division director
PHOENIX – The Border Trade Alliance (BTA) today announced that Nelson Balido has been hired as the organization’s new president.
Balido, who hails from San Antonio, has extensive experience in the public and private sectors. His career includes stops at respected companies like SBC Communications, where he served as the
company’s director of multicultural marketing, and most recently at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where he directed the agency’s private sector division and earned the DHS
Award of Excellence.
“We are thrilled that Nelson is joining our team,” Border Trade Alliance Chair Kathy Neal said. “The BTA board and I are excited that someone with Nelson’s extensive background both in business and government is directing our organization. I know he’ll do a great job representing the BTA’s mission, whether it’s on the northern border, southern border or in Washington, DC.”
Balido assumes the BTA presidency following the departure of Maria Luisa O’Connell, who left the BTA in August after 11 years to serve as the new assistant commissioner for public affairs with Customs and Border Protection.
“The Border Trade Alliance’s reputation as the leading voice for the cross-border trade community is well deserved,” Balido said. “I am honored to lead an organization that is playing such a critical role representing our borders’ needs before policymakers throughout North America.”
Balido brings to the BTA his extensive experience in the area of border security, having served on the Department of Homeland Security’s Advisory Council for two years and earning the DHS Distinguished Public Service Medal for his tenure.
“I look forward to carrying the message to my friends at DHS that we must do all we can to ensure that legitimate trade and travel doesn’t suffer as the department pursues its core security mission,” Balido said. Balido’s full bio can be found at www.nelsonbalido.com.
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About the Border Trade Alliance
Since 1986, the BTA has served as a grassroots, non-profit organization that provides a forum for discussion and advocacy on issues pertaining to the environment, border development, quality of life and trade in the Americas. A network of public and private sector representatives from the United States, Mexico and Canada, BTA’s core values include a commi tment to improving the quality of life of border communities through trade and commerce.
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