Though there may not be any immediate movement in the still sleepy fishing village that is Punta Colonet today; it is no secret that California and Baja California, respectively, are and will forever be inextricably joined together and joined not at the hip but by the Aortic artery known as the San Ysidro Land Port of Entry, the busiest border crossing in Western Hemisphere and some would argue in the world.

No matter how busy, there are those who not only see the road ahead they live it each and every day and none more so than the fine people of San Ysidro, California. This vibrant multicultural community south of San Diego does not just rest along the border of Mexico and their “sister” of Tijuana; It is indeed the border crossing. Each and every day, San Ysidro welcomes tens of thousands of men, women, children, cars, tourists and commuters alike. The impact of this daily ebb and flow is in many ways an economy unto itself.

It is true that after 9/11 and the U.S. government’s implantation of a series of security measures have slowed the inspection process at all land border crossings; Congestion at border crossings between the U.S. and Baja California have cost the U.S. and Mexican economies billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs however, the numbers of those making their way across the border seem to be rising.

As the new border expansion project enters its first year of construction one can make the reasonable assumption that business in the region will indeed increase over the long haul, Megaport or no Megaport.

I have put some feelers out to my contacts in Mexico to see if I can get the latest and will be sure to post what I find as soon as I get any information and can verify it as well.

By all accounts the last real news of note about the status of the project came in December of 2010 and was of the same nature in that Mexico was about to release the RFQ for the project.

In the meantime California, Arizona and New Mexico have been anticipating the project by announcing varies projects and or initiatives to woo the Mexican government and rail interests to partner with the port in creating ports of entry to manage the anticipated traffic.

Opponents have been many and are general in the subjects of opposition in the development of the port. The key factors deal with environment, quality of life for the people who live and will live in the area in order to build, work and support the project, etc.

However, I would also think another factor has come to light and is one that was not as much of one when the port was first announced by the Mexican Government.
Drug trafficking. Specifically, the alarming and very real increase in violence and the caviler nature of the drug cartels willingness to ply their trade no matter the cost to human life. With tensions on the subject between the U.S. and Mexico peaking, it can be argued that this issue will indeed have an affect on several levels.

Reports indicate BANOBRAS Director’s, Alfonso Garcia Tamez, claims of unfeasibility in developing the port caused a bit of a stir, prompting Baja Governor Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan and Secretary of Transportation, Juan Molinar Horcasitas, to seek clarification from the Director. Director Tamez suggested he had been misquoted by the Mexican media.

Banco Nacional de Obras y Servicios Públicos, SNC (BANOBRAS) is a state owned “National Works and Public Services” development bank in Mexico whose core competency is public works financing and banking services. Needless to say, their participation in such a high profile project would be a foregone conclusion.

That being said and in spite of the BANOBRAS director’s position, whatever that may be, comments from Punta Colonet’s port project Director, José Rubio Soto, further stymied any negatives in stating that the opinions of the BANOBRAS director to be personal ones and nothing more and that Mexico’s government is clearly committed to the project. Also noting that monies for the project are by and large going to be drawn from the private sector and that long term benefits of the port will certainly outweigh current economic issues. He further supported this position by stating that there are currently four bidders registered for the project with two more bidders coming to the table vying for a shot at developing the mega port.

There is also the support from Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transport’s (SCT) Baja California sector noting the December, 2009 timeline for bids has not changed and there appears to be indication that will change. The SCT issued a press release stating that the mega-port’s transportation impact will be significant and continues to remain of the highest priority for the SCT and the Mexican government, respectfully.

This is all interesting and at the very least something that cannot and should not be ignored. There is a tremendous amount at stake here and more than the environmental and economic issues that immediately come to mind. There are also social, logistic and security issues that come with such a project and allow me to remind you that the project will not only be about the development of a facility but also that of a virtually new city, one that will forever change the landscape and fabric of the region and beyond.

Pass it on!

Jaime

I have only been able to find a single source for this and nothing more. I will have to make some phone calls and see what the scoop is about the port.

Jaime

Photo: Courtesy of Alan Harper

What cannot be denied is the delay in the manner of developing the Mega-port and, to the best of my knowledge, even before the bid-process has been completed. Economic forces not withstanding a point of view just shared with me brings to light the good old fashion rule of “supply and demand” and how it may loosely apply to Punta Colonet.

That is to say, if the demand comes from anything west of the Rockies; then why not just stay with the proven, albeit crowded at times, Port of Los Angeles? Sure, “west of the Rockies” geographically represents only one-third of the country but let us not forget that California is indeed one the largest economies in the world and thus commands the appropriate demand, respectfully.

With this in mind there seems to be an underlying sense that perhaps the port may indeed be “dead in the water” (no pun intended) and that perhaps it will never see the light of day. At this point am I am not so sure where I would place my bet.

Let’s assume for moment that the mega-port is in fact dead. Do we take that and breathe a collective sigh of relief and assume that the worst is over or do we take this as a shot across the proverbial bow and take note of what I consider to be the to be the obvious, change is coming. Like or not, it is indeed going to come.

Change is in the air…..stay tuned for my input on Change.

JS

Thus far I have been in contact with a few concerns and working to find more.

JS

Foxconn is the trade name for Taiwan-based Hon Hai Precision Industry who broke ground last July on what is to ne the largest maquiladora in Mexico. The first building on the 440-acre campus was completed in February and is the first commercial development in San Jeronimo, an area of desert stretching south into Mexico from New Mexico’s Santa Teresa port of entry. Officials believe the plant will become the major driver of economic development on both sides of the border. The plant is currently employing approximately 200 workers however; when the facility is fully completed, the three million square feet of industrial space will to employ and support 20,000 workers.

On the surface this may seem as an innocuous event in an area where very little appears to be happening nevertheless, this is a solid indication of the anticipated potential of future trade prospects in the region.

Tijuana is said to be the largest manufacture of televisions in the world and contrasts Baja California Sur’s most southern cities of Los Cabos and Cabo San Lucas; one of Mexico’s tourism jewels and gateway to the Sea of Cortez, the body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland. Bordered by the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, and Sinaloa, the name “Gulf of California” predominates on most maps today. The narrow sea is home to a unique and rich ecosystem. In addition to a wide range of endemic creatures, it hosts many migratory species. In between, Baja California is also home to the largest solar Sea Salt operation in the world and a burgeoning wine industry.

This blog will serve to explore and bring to light the many facets of the Punta Colonet Mega Port and will be in concert with sister blogs, to be named very soon. These will include blogs on Mexico’s Eco-Tourism, The Sea of Cortez, Mexico and so forth. I will be contacting various sources for information as it relates to the broad range of industries including, commercial development, tourism, logistics, NAFTA, security, shipping, state agencies, chambers of commerce etc. I welcome all input and points of view in an effort to better understand the potential impact of such a development.