November 13, 2017

NEWCITY Medical Plaza was recognized as the Most Outstanding Medical Tourism Service in the World by The Globals Awards, which took place November 9^th, 2017, in London. The Globals recognizes the rapid growth of the medical tourism in the world, and how individuals and organizations develop projects in order to enhance the quality standards of medical services in their countries, regions, and the world.     

The NEWCITY Medical Plaza aims to provide its patients the most innovative treatments available in Mexico in a safe and compassionate environment, less than a mile away from the U.S. border. The project satisfies the needs from both patients and doctors, and includes a neurological center; clinical, pathology, and radiology laboratories; ambulatory care; recovery boutique hotel; certified surgery suits with intermediate care; a shopping mall; and restaurants with Baja Med cuisine.

Visit NEWCITY’s website

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November 13, 2017

Chamber President and CEO Jerry Sanders, and Paola Avila, VP of International Business Affairs, met with Assistant Secretary Palmieri from the Department of State to discuss different issues that affect the Cali-Baja region. The meeting served as a follow-up opportunity after the Chamber’s advocacy trip to Washington D.C. in September.

Among the discussion topics, the Chamber continued its advocacy efforts for a rail port of entry at Tecate with a pre-inspection facility, support for NAFTA, advancing planning and construction of the Otay Mesa East port of entry, and a work plan between the U.S. and Mexican governments to mitigate pollution in the Tijuana River Valley.

November 13, 2017

Please save the date for next year’s Chamber Delegation Trip to Mexico City, taking place April 15^th to 18^th, 2018. We are happy to announce our continued partnership with the Four Seasons Hotel who will provide a discounted rate for our delegation.

This year’s Mexico City Trip was a great success thanks to the support of our delegates. With over 90 business and community leaders as well as elected officials from San Diego and Baja California, Mexico, the focus of our visit was to reaffirm our region’s commitment to binational collaboration, strengthen diplomatic and economic ties, and advance the policies that benefit both economies.

Below, you will find links to our recap and photos from this year’s trip to Mexico City.

• Trip Recap
• Facebook Photo Album

For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact:
Sherman D. Stocker
Corporate Relations Manager
San Diego Regional
Chamber of Commerce
p: 619.544.1354
sstocker@sdchamber.org

November 13, 2017

The Chamber and business leaders from Tijuana met with members of The San Diego Union-Tribune including Publisher and Editor-In-Chief Jeff Light, Editorial & Opinion Director Matt Hall, and editorial cartoonist Steve Breen to encourage a constructive dialogue on how to overcome misconceptions in our binational region.

The meeting was prompted by a political cartoon in The San Diego Union-Tribune addressing record violence in Tijuana. That cartoon drew emotional responses from Baja including Mexican officials from Tijuana and the state level as well as a cartoon in response from Tijuana’s El Mexicano newspaper.

During the meeting the group heard updates from Tijuana business organizations on their efforts related to cross-border commerce and discussed how to more actively share regional perspectives for future opinion pieces.

November 13, 2017

Paola Avila, VP of International Business Affairs, was elected by the Border Trade Alliance (BTA) as the new Chair for 2018. BTA is a nonprofit organization that aims to facilitate border development and initiating, monitoring, and influencing public policy and private sector initiatives for the facilitation of international trade and commerce. This is achieved through the organization’s advocacy, research, education, and strategic planning.

Additionally, BTA serves as a forum for participants to address key issues affecting trade, travel and security in North America. They have advocated for a highway bill that actually serves the needs of the U.S. border regions between the country and Mexico and Canada. For over 25 years, the organization has worked through its constituents in border communities and with local, state and federal policymakers to advance legislative solutions based on cross-border trade experience.

November 13, 2017

The Chamber visited Baja Railroad’s offices in Tijuana and received a tour of their daily activities. Baja California Railroad (BJRR), is the railway company that operates the Tijuana-Tecate short line in Baja California. They transport freight and goods between both sides of California’s border.

The tour started with the exchange operations at the San Ysidro station. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers walked the group across the border and explained the current challenges for efficient operations which included staff shortage and insufficient infrastructure if operations continue to increase.

Every year, the company handles more than 3,400 rail cars a year because of its location in one of the most prominent industrial corridors in Mexico. BJRR shared that their biggest limitations in business are collaboration and reliability from their U.S. counterparts for which they requested the Chamber’s assistance in advocacy.

November 13, 2017

On November 1^st, the Chamber’s Cross Border Business Forum held a panel discussion on the Baja California property development, opportunities, and investment. The discussion focused on business opportunities and real estate statistics, projects, and challenges. The Metropolitan Institute for Urban Planning of Tijuana (IMPLAN) shared an overview of the city’s urban planning projects and how the agency works together with developers. There are six hotels, three hospitals, 15 building projects, and four shopping centers currently under construction just in Tijuana. These projects are a realization of what the city has been working on for so many years in terms of infrastructure and economic growth.

Developers and realtors shared a concern regarding the perceived lack of security and corruption in Tijuana. It was suggested that U.S. citizens living in Tijuana and Rosarito share testimonials to help develop a positive perception and change the dialogue.

A final question focused on the Tijuana River pollution issue. IMPLAN clarified that this issue pertains to the Ministry of Urban Development for the State of Baja. Tijuana is working on diagnosing its sewage infrastructure to understand urban capacity.

The Chamber’s next Cross Border Business Forum will be held on February 15^th, 2018, at the Chamber office in San Diego.

November 13, 2017

On November 7, 2017, Scripps Health unveiled their largest building program in its 125-year history, which aims to deliver care in a setting that reflects the changing health needs of the San Diego community.

The project includes different plans for Scripps in San Diego, Chula Vista, La Jolla, and Encinitas. Several changes will be implemented in each location, including replacing the existing acute care building with a new one in San Diego, retrofitting the acute care buildings in Chula Vista, and a construction of a new seven-story, 401,000 square-foot hospital tower at the La Jolla Hospital. The building plan also includes a new cancer center at the San Diego location.

Scripps will continue to thrive on delivering care through increased access to patients, taking advantage of the health care trends and the rapid evolution of technology.