San Diego Dialogue

In 1997 San Diego Dialogue established the Forum Fronterizo luncheon series to provide civic leaders with a venue to examine opportunities and challenges in the San Diego/Baja California metropolitan region.

The Forum has regularly attracted a distinguished audience of over 300 business, government and academic leaders from both sides of the border, including the region’s key elected officials and CEOs.

The 23rd Forum Fronterizo was a featured panel of the North American Competitiveness, Innovation & Clean Energy Conference 2010. The Confrence was presented by the US Department of Commerce, the Mexico Business Center at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Trans-Border Institute at the University of San Diego, and San Diego Dialogue. The conference included a joint keynote address by US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, Mexican Secretary of the Economy Gerardo Ruiz Mateos, and Canadian Minister of Industry Tony Clement.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Main Theater, Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice
University of San Diego

Keynote Speakers:
Gary Locke, US Secretary of Commerce
Gerardo Ruiz Mateos, Mexian Secretary of Economy
Tony Clement, Canadian Minister of Industry

Watch the keynote address on UCSD-TV here.
A full transcript of the Conference is available here.

"China is not waiting to revamp its economy. Germany is not waiting. India is not waiting. These nations -- they're not standing still. These nations aren't playing for second place. They're putting more emphasis on math and science. They're rebuilding their infrastructure. They're making serious investments in clean energy because they want those jobs. Well, I do not accept second place for the United States of America."

Leaders in the United States, Canada, and Mexico view the clean energy sector as a key component of future economic growth and technology leadership. Panelists representing each country discussed the importance of moving to a cleaner, low-carbon economy. The session highlighted trilateral initiatives and collaborative policies that support technology development and innovation to bolster our countries' economic competitiveness.

Moderator:
• Neal Schmale, President & Chief Operatring Officer, Sempra Energy

Panelists:
• Raul Felix-Saul, Partner, Baker & McKenzie Abogados, S.C.
• David Harris-Kolada, Vice President, Corporate & Market Development, Sustainable Development Technology Canada
• Stephen Mayfield, Director, San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology, UC San Diego; Chairman, Scientific Advisory Board, Sapphire Energy

Past Forum Fronterizo Programs

Past speakers have included:
• U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno
• U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson
• Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs José Angel Gurría
• Mexico’s Secretary of the Environment Julia Carabias
• NADBank General Manager Victor Miramontes
• U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service Commissioner Dorris Meissner
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary Asa Hutchinson
• Qualcomm C.E.O. Irwin Jacobs
• California Lt. Governor John Garamendi

All Forum Fronterizo programs have received extensive radio, television, and print media coverage in both Mexican and U.S. markets.

Video of previous Forum Fronterizo programs are available online via UCSD-TV. Click here for a full listing of programs.

Now in its eleventh year of activities, the Forum Fronterizo has become a useful resource for defining strategic challenges facing the cross-border region and presenting potential solutions. The Forum's primary goal is to educate active and influential constituencies and inform a regional audience on the "state of the region."

Please submit your contact information on our Mailing List Registration page to be informed about future programs.