enrique castro

PHARR, Texas - Index Reynosa Fundación wants to add additional charity events throughout the year in order to augment its main fundraiser, an annual golf tournament held at the City of Pharr’s Tierra Del Sol Golf Club.

Index is the largest trade association for the maquiladora industry in Mexico and one of its largest chapters is in Reynosa.

Index Reynosa Fundación’s most recent golf tournament was held on October 28 and had the aim of raising a record high $100,000. Around 180 golfers took part, most of whom work in or are associated with the maquiladora industry. 

Among the charities the foundation is helping this year are Miradas de Esperanza, Children’s Haven International, Centro de Capacitación y Talento Empresarial, and Rio Bravo Ministries.

Checks will be presented to these charities at an event at the Cambria Hotel in McAllen on December 14. Mike Myers, an Index Reynosa board member who leads Index Reynosa Fundación, said that while the check presentations are “moving" he gets most fun from raising money through the golf tournament. “That’s where the rubber hits the road,” he said.

In an exclusive interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service on the eve of the tournament, Myers spoke about his plans to raise additional funds.

“Our committees are our strength and so we’re going to push the foundation down to the committees, where the rubber hits the road and get more input on their side so we can have more events,” Myers said. 

“There are other things that we can be doing out there. And so we’re getting ready to take the next step and create a social responsibility group.”

Myers said former Index Mexico President Enrique Castro is “Mr. Social Responsibility” within the Index Reynosa group. Myers said Castro will lead the social responsibility group.

“He’s going to get down into the committees and come up (more ideas for events) so we are not just doing one golf tournament a year. (Instead we would be) doing events throughout the year,” Myers said.

“It would be nice if we could put the money in the bank and spend just the interest, kind of like an endowment. I mean, that is the ultimate goal. That way that money never disappears.”

Not wishing to get too far ahead of what is possible, Myers added: “I know you’ve got to walk and crawl. We have crawled already and we’re doing some walking. But we do see a vision of making it bigger and that’s by using our committees.”


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MCALLEN, Texas - Attending MXLAN’s International Economic Summit at the McAllen Convention Center, Index Reynosa’s Enrique Castro looked around the ballroom and expressed pleasure at what he saw.

“Forty years ago you would not have seen this. It is full of Mexicanos. Back then there were not that many. McAllen was divided by the railroad tracks,” Castro said. 

The maquiladora industry leader said the culture and demographics of the McAllen metro area today can help land huge investment from Mexico.

“It's a very Hispanic-friendly city,” Castro said of McAllen. 

“I think there are a lot of investors from Mexico that are willing to put their money at the border. Not go north. Not go south. But stay here where they can have this (Mexican friendly) environment. We were talking a few minutes ago with some of the people and gosh there are a lot of Latinos here now. New kids, even those that are returning back. They left the Valley because their were no opportunities. Now they're coming back with experience. I think it's going to be very exciting.”

Castro gave an exclusive interview to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service immediately following the keynote speech at the International Economic Summit. It was given by Duncan Wood of the Wilson Center.

“I think what makes an area interesting is their own people, not just the money. If you don't have people that you can trust, that you can talk to…,” Castro told the Guardian. “Look at Monterrey. Monterrey is the new Shanghai of Mexico. Why is the border not like Monterrey?”

Castro said he remembers the vision Richard Cortez had when he was mayor of McAllen.

“I remember his plan on making McAllen like a small San Antonio. Remember all that? That's a really good opportunity. And they have already the projects and the money. I think it will come out very soon, something like that.”

Castro is a Mexican national who has lived and worked on both sides of the border for many years. His business interests now are mostly in Queretaro, Reynosa, and McAllen. He has been president of Index, the maquiladora trade association, at both the national and local level. 

During an earlier panel discussion at the International Economic Summit, involving four local bankers, Castro asked a question during the Q&A. He pointed out that Tamaulipas was not getting much of the near-shoring that is happening now. He said security and infrastructure issues must be resolved. 

However, in his interview with the Guardian, Castro said the Rio Grande Valley and northern Tamaulipas can land some big manufacturing projects. At present, the big winner in the near-shoring race is Nuevo León, a state where Elon Musk is building a new Tesla plant.

“I think there are other companies, big companies, large companies that are willing to come this way. I mean, Tesla is, right now, the new kid on the block. But, gosh, I know several companies that are coming this way that are even bigger and stronger, especially in the high tech (world), in electronics and all that,” Castro said.

Castro said he was not just talking about microchip manufacturing. 

“There is a lot of high tech, which I think Texas should take advantage of. Yesterday we were talking about that at the MEDC. There are a lot of schools here. The medical school. There are a lot of things. I'm really excited that we can grow. But, you know, it's all about trust.”

MEDC stands for McAllen Economic Development Corporation.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.