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-Editorial
The Tourism and Conventions Committee (COTUCO) of Mexicali held a press conference on June 9 at the Mexican Consulate in Calexico to officially promote the upcoming IV Foro Internacional Agroindustrial 2025 (FIA 4), taking place June 12–14 at the Centro Estatal de las Artes (CEART) in Mexicali. The event is free and open to the public.
Organized by the Government of Baja California through its Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER BC), in partnership with CANACINTRA Nacional, FIA 4 aims to boost international trade connections and position Baja California as a leader in agro-food innovation. This year’s forum will feature more than 200 exhibitors, six keynote conferences, eight business seminars, and representatives from 15 countries, including Canada, Israel, Vietnam, and Slovakia. Ten Mexican states will also participate.
The forum’s central goal is to generate strategic partnerships and investment opportunities for sectors such as agro-food production, gastronomy, entrepreneurship, and culture. More than 4,500 participants are expected over three days, including buyers, investors, trade attachés, and government officials.
Guillermo Chacón, General Director of CANACINTRA, underscored the event’s significance for Baja California’s economic future. “What we want is to showcase the products being developed in the Mexicali Valley and throughout Baja California,” Chacón said. “Ten embassies are sending commercial attachés to explore business opportunities, with many looking to buy, invest, and form partnerships.” He described the forum as a “business engine” with over 190 commercial modules, where entrepreneurs can connect directly with prospective investors. Chacón stressed this is not just a one-time effort, but part of an annual strategy to attract long-term investment and global collaboration. “This is about regional collaboration, not competition. It’s time to work together.”
Aldo Gutiérrez Basulto, Delegate of Tourism in Mexicali, highlighted the complementary role of tourism in supporting economic development. “From the state government, our role is always to unite sectors, promote connections, and create spaces where the private sector can be heard and seen,” he said. Gutiérrez emphasized that Mexicali’s potential extends beyond summer months, with strong offerings in nature, adventure, and rural tourism. “Much of our work happens outside—promoting, managing, and building links between institutions and entrepreneurs. Our countryside is productive, unique, and full of potential.”
The 2025 Foro Internacional Agroindustrial will feature six keynote lectures on topics such as market trends, sustainable food production, and value chain logistics, along with eight specialized seminars focused on agroindustrial trade, management, and export strategies. The event will host over 150 companies from the agroindustrial sector and attract more than 50 national and international buyers and investors. Delegations from 20 countries will participate through their embassies and consulates. The forum will also include the signing of collaboration agreements, award presentations, and gastronomic experiences showcasing regional ingredients and cuisine.
In 2023, Baja California ranked among the top producers of cilantro, dates, cotton, grapes, strawberries, and blackberries. It is also the fifth-largest producer of beef cattle in Mexico, with Mexicali housing three federally inspected slaughterhouses (TIF) and producing 115,000 tons of certified beef annually. The region also stands out for its unique monofloral honey, developed through specific crop pollination, and most products meet export quality standards.