New Port Colombia-Laredo Checkpoint to Enhance, Boost Customs

As part of Nuevo Leon’s efforts to enhance cross-border trade, Governor Samuel García inaugurated a new checkpoint at Port Colombia-Laredo, which connects Nuevo Leon with Texas, the US. The checkpoint will monitor that all cross-border trade between Mexico and the US is compliant with the laws of both countries, making customs safer and faster.

The modernization of customs, according to García, has been key for the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI). According to Marco Gonzalez, Minister of Regional and Agricultural Development of Nuevo Leon, the Port Colombia-Laredo crossing has been forgotten for almost 32 years since the World Trade Bridge was created, but today is set to triple its exports. 

García says that FDI has quadrupled in the past two years, from US$4 billion to US$30 billion. This project will help to consolidate Nuevo Leon as the best region to make business with the US, he adds. The project was designed alongside the US Border Patrol, US Customs and Border Protection and operated by the Civil Force and the National Guard. 

The new checkpoint has an investment of MX$61 million (US$3.4 million) and will establish an efficient system of vehicle revision that will contribute to the safe and efficient transportation when crossing from Nuevo Leon to the US. The project started as a commitment to Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas. The checkpoint will have vehicle controls, two lanes for automobiles and/or motorcycles, three lanes for the exclusive use of transport with excess dimensions, a check booth for each lane and a building that is set to include two holding cells with a holding cell control area, among recreational areas and other amenities.

The checkpoint adds to the several projects the government of Nuevo Leon is launching to attend to the nearshoring needs, such as the expansion of lanes from eight to 16 of the Laredo-Colombia Bridge and the recently inaugurated La Gloria-Colombia highway.