Ensenada – During a presentation by international consultant Mario Lopez on the opportunities in the Calibaja region to the Ensenada Business Coordinating Council (CCEE), Ensenada’s president, Marco Estudillo Bernal, underscored Ensenada’s commitment to promote a binational agenda that achieves tangible results.
“Strengthening ties with California is fundamental; we need to advance a legislative agenda that includes all of Baja California in this vision,” Estudillo enthusiastically expressed.
Estudillo also highlighted the strengths that make Ensenada a special place: its human talent, natural resources, potential for nearshoring, its port, agriculture, fishing and growing tourism. “It is time for Ensenada to attract the attention of the public sectors in Baja California and, most especially, in the neighboring state,” he commented. He suggested that the Calibaja region can become a strategic platform linking both sides of the border.
He also called for the promotion of key projects for Ensenada, such as an alternate transportation route, the strengthening of the port, and the development of an airport and convention center.
The CCEE president said that they will seek to actively collaborate with leaders in the region, including the U.S. consul in Tijuana and the Mexican consul in San Diego, as well as legislators and representatives of organizations in California.
“We want, together with Claudia Agatón and her team, to put Ensenada as a key player in the regional agenda,” emphasized Estudillo, reiterating CCEE’s commitment to project this vision outward.
For Estudillo, Ensenada’s economic development can be enhanced through strategic collaborations with California industries, leveraging sectors such as technology, tourism and agriculture. “Our geographic proximity and complementary resources allow us to create alliances that boost regional development,” he said, referring to initiatives such as the ‘Silicon Border’ project in Mexicali, which seeks to attract investments in advanced technology and semiconductors, taking advantage of the proximity to the California market.
Finally, he highlighted the importance of replicating events such as the International Forum “Interconnecting Smart Cities” held in Ensenada in 2024, as a model for future meetings that promote the exchange of best practices and innovative solutions. “Ensenada and California have a great opportunity to strengthen their cooperation on issues such as urban mobility, educational innovation and environmental sustainability,” he stressed, confident that these initiatives can improve both the quality of life and economic competitiveness of the region in the long term.