Govenor's Policy Priorities

"Arizona's economy is dramatically strengthened by business, social and cultural interaction with Mexico... A strong relationship with Mexico and strategies for regional development are crucial to the enhancement of Arizona's global competitiveness." - Governor Janet Napolitano

Here's how the AMC is supporting Governor Napolitano's policy priorities...

The AMC shall:

1. Support Arizona's advocacy for the federal government to develop coordinated national policy for comprehensive immigration reform and to enhance information and intelligence exchange throughout the U.S.-Mexico region.
2. Pioneer joint efforts to secure the Arizona-Mexico region with cross-border state and local government efforts, including implementing binational public safety initiatives that streamline law enforcement and communications systems to assist Arizona and Mexico when responding to disasters, fighting crime and preventing illegal immigration.
3. Support creation and implementation of cross-border technology initiatives to strengthen collaboration between Arizona and Mexico to improve emergency and crime response times.

Expand Trade for Arizona

The AMC shall:

1. Collaborate with Mexico on investments in security and safety at Arizona's ports of entry in order to make Arizona's ports to the most advanced and efficient along the U.S.-Mexico border.
2. Develop strategies to increase Arizona's global competitiveness by increasing efficiency at our ports of entry, creating cross-border private sector connections, and collaborating with agencies and organizations in the public and private sectors to coordinate policy for secure, lawful international trade.

Promote Regional Economic Development

The AMC shall:

1. Coordinate, facilitate and manage special projects and research opportunities as they relate to Arizona's global competitiveness relative to other U.S.-Mexico border states, and develop binational investment initiatives and opportunities to strengthen our border region and stimulate the economies along the U.S.-Mexico border.
2. Assist counties and municipalities, including border communities, in facilitating sustainable economic development.
3. Support development of a global brand for Arizona, through our relationship with Mexico, to raise foreign and domestic capital for our economy and foster business innovation for the region.
4. Help organize community partnerships that will stimulate new technologies, markets and approaches to cross-border economic development that promotes smart, sustainable growth to benefit our residents.

Quality of Life

The AMC shall:

1. Commission studies and research to assess trends and develop solutions as necessary for current and future needs the Arizona-Mexico Region.
2. Promote intelligent community development, focusing on quality education, healthcare, safety, security infrastructure and economic development.
3. Support implementation of the State's plan for a future that capitalizes on innovation and technology in our schools, promotes regional healthy life style programs, improves our ports of entry, and develops transportation systems to accommodate the needs of ourselves and our children.

Cultural Enrichment in the Region

The AMC shall:

1. Maintain existing cultural exchanges between Arizona and Mexico.
2. Develop and implement educational programs that honor our diversity, but focus on the uniting principle that while we are many lands, many people, many faiths, we are One Region.
3. Expand opportunities, through partnerships with binational art and cultural organizations, for regional artists to participate in events and publicly share their work locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
4. Continue to share and raise awareness of artistic and cultural history of our region by promoting cross-border teaching by regional artists throughout classrooms in Arizona and Mexico.