Arizona Co-Chairs
Sandra Watson
President & CEO
Arizona Commerce Authority
Julie Engel
Director of Business Development
Yuma Regional Medical Center
Committee Collaborations
The Economic Development Committee promotes the economic development efforts and global attractiveness of the Arizona-Sonora region. The Economic Development Committee focuses on promoting the joint innovative efforts of Arizona-Sonora to be at the forefront of the evolving global economy.
How to Get Involved
The AMC/CSEU binational committees are always looking for new members, passionate about strengthening the ties between Arizona and Mexico. As a committee member you will be surrounded by subject-area experts and business leaders from Arizona and Mexico, coming together to achieve common goals. Join a committee and help us shape policy, and exchange ideas and information through cross-border communication and collaboration.
If you’re interested in learning more about this committee or how to get involved, click here to send us a note and we’ll get you connected.
Committee Executive Summary
The Economic Development Committee advanced a shared Arizona-Sonora agenda focused on growing trade, strengthening supply-chain connectivity, and promoting the mega-region as a competitive platform for advanced manufacturing, logistics, and innovation. The Committee also identified near-term actions to elevate the border, expand business engagement, and deepen university and entrepreneurship partnerships.
Action Plans
#1- Growing Trade: The Committee is expanding cross-border commerce by identifying supply chain gaps and hosting targeted matchmaking events to deepen business-to-business connectivity. Building on the successful April 2025 mission to Mexicali, Baja California, current initiatives prioritize regional ecosystem integration across key gateways like the San Luis Port of Entry. Immediate efforts focus on the upcoming August 11 summit in Mexicali as part of the “Branding Our Ports of Entry” campaign, alongside an industrial capabilities event scheduled for August 20 at the U.S. Consulate in Nogales, Sonora, coordinated with Collectron, the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), the Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC), and regional partners.
#2 – Enhancing Regional Attractiveness: Actively reshaping the narrative around our border region by deploying the “North America’s AI Gateway / Rebranding the Arizona Border” framework to position our ports of entry as major economic assets. Success will be measured by the completion and deployment of a single mega-region value proposition, the widespread adoption of shared messaging and visual assets by regional partners, and increased engagement at key infrastructure-focused events. To ensure maximum reach, this unified value proposition will be featured prominently in all future trade missions, economic forums, and investor outreach programs.
#3 – Early-Stage Ventures & University Partnerships: The Committee reaffirmed the importance of linking universities, business accelerators, and entrepreneurship networks across Arizona and Sonora to accelerate the growth of startups. Initial strategies focus on improving the visibility of cross-border programs and creating clear, accessible pathways for early-stage companies. The long-term goal of these partnerships is to build a robust, integrated cross-border framework that directly supports regional commercialization, talent, and innovation.