This Friday, September 24, the Governor-elect of Baja California met with U.S. officials in different locations in the city of San Diego with the objective of addressing key issues for the binational relationship with this important neighboring city. Among the topics discussed were international mobility, trade and tourism.

As part of the plan of activities, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda met with Pete Lores, Director of Operations of the Office of Customs and Border Protection (CPB) in San Diego, with whom the need to promote agile and safe border crossings that improve the daily life of the inhabitants of the Tijuana-San Diego area was discussed.

She also toured the construction of the Otay II project, together with SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments), and there she raised the importance of the binational project that aims to speed up border crossings by up to 50 percent, which will have direct positive repercussions, especially in terms of trade.

She was also present at the Friendship Park, a project that seeks to be a space for families and loved ones in general, who have been separated by the border wall where they can meet, which, in essence, is important to maintain a proper relationship with this important neighboring city.

Given the importance of national security and maintaining a safe migratory environment, the Governor-elect also had a meeting with Aaron Heitke, head of the Border Patrol in the San Diego area, to address joint strategies for binational collaboration, and to avoid putting the integrity of the inhabitants and migrants who coexist in this binational region at risk.

Another important moment of this Friday was the meeting with the Mayor of San Diego, Todd Gloria, where binational policy issues could be addressed, having a close relationship to solve projects that concern both sides of the border, so other members of SANDAG were present, as the mayor of National City, Alejandra Sotelo, and Serge Dedina, mayor of Imperial Beach.

Finally, given the importance of coexistence, Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda was invited to throw the first pitch in a San Diego Padres game at Petco Park, with the intention of having a gesture of close friendship with the San Diegans, with whom they share economic interests and a friendship that transcends borders.

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