Del Rio News Herald

Mexico President Vicente Fox Quesada flew into Ciudad Acuña on Thursday to salute maquila workers and the economic growth they have fostered along the U.S.-Mexico border.

In a flurry of 1 p.m. helicopter landings, Fox and his entourage of advisers and security forces arrived at the Bendix/Madasa plant along Carretera Presa Amistad in Acuña’s industrial district.

Greeting the president and Coahuila Gov. Enrique Martinez Y Martinez were Eddie Wilkinson, manager of Mexico operations for Bendix/Madasa, and his staff.

After a brief tour of the company’s plant number one (of two in Acuña), Fox was applauded and welcomed warmly by an audience of about 200 workers and a small group of dignitaries, civic and business leaders, all in a large open area of the plant that manufactures air braking systems for large trucks.

As he entered the presentation area, wearing a long-sleeved, open neck white shirt and signature western boots, Fox shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with factory assembly line workers seated close to the dignitaries and stage from which speeches were made.

Sergio Botello Cardenas, Ciudad Acuña municipal director of infrastructure, was on hand to help coordinate the event, and explained Fox’s proximity to the workers.

“After this is over, Mr. President Fox will have lunch with these factory workers. This is all for them.”

Mounting the stage, Fox, Martinez, Wilkinson, Acuña Mayor Dr. Alfredo Garza Castillo, and other dignitaries were seated facing large, floor-mounted monitors on which Wilkinson projected his presentation graphics.

A large screen facing the audience displayed the same Power Point © images, as Wilkinson briefed the assembly on the encouraging status of maquila industry in Acuña and along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Wilkinson said the automotive industry, in particular, looks promising as growth of demand and workforce stability increase.

Later in the day Wilkinson said the Mexican president expressed his gratitude for a thorough presentation “with just the right message.”

Martinez also delivered encouraging news, revolving around his observation that “Acuña is one of the border’s most rapidly growing areas of population.”

As a result, Martinez, said there are great needs for infrastructure improvements, particularly roads and delivery systems for water, electricity and other utilities.

Martinez spoke glowingly of cooperation among all levels of Mexican government to address those issues.

“The three governments – the federal, the municipal and the state – are all of different political parties, but we always work together on these things,” Martinez told the crowd.

Finally, Martinez directly thanked Del Rio Mayor Dora G. Alcalá, seated near the stage, for her “teamwork” approach to cross-border issues.

In his brief presentation, Fox focused on profound needs for improvements in education throughout Mexico.

He emphasized that global changes in technology demand better access for Mexican students to computers and data processing capabilities.

Fox expressed his hope that education for rural students, still using indigenous languages, will receive attention with instruction based in those languages.

Fox also stated his intention to see the development of one million scholarships for high school graduates to attend college level instruction.

Echoing the corporate philosophy of Bendix/Madasa employee education, Fox summarized his interest in academic advancement for all Mexicans.

“Training and development of all our human resources is very important,” Fox said.

Before Fox’s arrival, Wilkinson praised his staff for quickly putting together the day’s activities, guided by rigid security measures and tight schedules.

“We only had two days notice to get ready,” Wilkinson chuckled appreciatively.

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