HARLINGEN, Texas — In a clear demonstration of regional unity and backing for binational trade expansion, the South Texas Manufacturers Association (STMA) is stepping aside from its traditional schedule to lend its full weight to a major international industrial gathering coming to the Rio Grande Valley.
STMA Executive Director Mike Willis announced that the association will cancel its regular May 2027 membership meeting to encourage all regional industrial leaders, suppliers, and economic development partners to attend the inaugural Texas–Mexico Manufacturing Ecosystem Forum 2027.
The landmark binational event is scheduled for May 12–13, 2027, at the Harlingen Convention Center.
“Next year in May, the Texas–Mexico Manufacturing Ecosystem Forum 2027 takes place right here in this building,” Willis said during a recent STMA luncheon in Harlingen. “That conference is going to take the place of our May 2027 STMA meeting. We're not going to have an STMA meeting that month, and we are going to support that forum.”
Willis emphasized that the two-day summit promises to become a cornerstone event for cross-border commerce and supply chain integration.
“It promises to be a major international manufacturing event right here in the Valley,” Willis added, pointing out that economic development corporations such as the Harlingen EDC, along with regional and national industrial groups including Index Nacional, the Austin Regional Manufacturers Association, the Greater Houston Manufacturers Association, and the San Antonio Manufacturers Association, are heavily involved.
“They've already got quite a few major global Tier 1 and Tier 2 companies from Mexico and the U.S. that have participated. There's going to be exhibit hall booths, networking, and one-on-one meeting opportunities. It can help some of our industrial suppliers here who are trying to become suppliers to big companies.”
Organized by Mexico Industry and ProTexas Industry, and powered by Rio South Texas/Council for South Texas Economic Progress, the forum is designed as a strategic single platform connecting companies, suppliers, buyers, investors, and educational institutions.
Event organizers anticipate drawing more than 2,500 participants, over 200 companies, 90-plus exhibition booths, and more than 70 invited associations, industrial clusters, and economic development entities to the heart of the Valley.
The forum's central objective is to align supply chain capabilities across Texas and Mexico across 11 strategic sectors:
A defining feature of the conference is the First Texas–Mexico Manufacturing Ecosystem Integration Roundtable.Designed as a neutral setting for binational dialogue, the two-hour executive session will convene leadership from state and national industrial clusters, business organizations, and universities across both countries.
The roundtable will focus on four core priorities:
Confirmed participants already span prominent border and inland entities. From Texas, participants include the Harlingen EDC, Pharr EDC, Edinburg EDC, Port of Brownsville, SAMA, ARMA, and the Greater Houston Manufacturers Association. Participating Mexican and binational organizations include CODEM (Matamoros), COBIFER (Reynosa),COMCE, FUMEC, and regional Index chapters from Nuevo León, Guanajuato, Reynosa, Querétaro, Nuevo Laredo, and Matamoros. Key sector representatives include the Industria Nacional de Autopartes (INA), the Clúster Automotriz de Nuevo León (CLAUT), Monterrey Aerocluster, and various technology and plastics clusters.
In addition to the industrial exposition and B2B matchmaking, the event schedule features specialized panels, high-level keynote presentations, a Welcome Cocktail Reception, and the Texas–Mexico Industry Leadership & Excellence Awards Night on May 12 at the nearby Gloria G. Canales Auditorium.
Willis noted that additional details regarding registration and exhibition space will be rolled out early next year.
"There'll be a lot more information shared on that after the first of the year," Willis said, reiterating that bringing the binational manufacturing community together under one roof in Harlingen represents a transformative opportunity for South Texas suppliers.
