Business: San Antonio

Free Trade Alliance NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Alliance) has created and fostered increasingly strong ties between Mexico and the U.S. The presentation given by Ann Stevens in the Free Trade Alliance Mexico Group affirmed these ties in regards to the biotechnology industry. The Free Trade Alliance is an organization specifically designed to encourage international businesses to come to San Antonio, Texas.

Stevens is the head of BioMed, SA, another organization designed to facilitate commerce specifically in the area of health, wellness, and medicine that works with the Free Trade alliance. San Antonio as a city is attempting to foster awareness about its resources which can lead to greater commercial development in the field of biomedical development.

According to the mission statement of BioMed on the "About us" section of its website, it intends to "accelerate growth of the healthcare and bioscience sector, create regional economic benefit, and contribute to the health of San Antonio and beyond by establishing San Antonio as a leader in healthcare and bioscience." This meshes with the Free Trade Alliance's stated mission to attract foreign direct investment in the area and to promote exports and other economic practices which facilitate the growth of international business.

The medical field is now one which has global implications in terms of research and technology. Without a free flow of global trade as supported by the Free Trade Alliance, San Antonio will not be able to enjoy its full, expected growth potential. Medicine requires making connections with individuals all over the world in terms of both knowledge and revenue-sharing. Innovative companies such as BioMed recognize that just as disease cannot be contained within the borders of a single nation, nor can and should medical research.

Presentation: Economic development and what free trade alliance is According to the "About us" section of the website of the Free Trade Alliance, its stated purpose is "to position San Antonio as the hub for international business in the South Texas region" by bringing together "both public and private entities and coordinate the combined resources of our members and partners to promote foreign direct investment, export development and to advocate on issues that affect international business in the region." The Free Trade Alliance also works in conjunction with other nonprofits, including InSA (Invest, Inspire, Export), to achieve its mission.

While business is always a competitive venture, cooperation can be facilitated through the use of such nonprofits, including securing funding for emerging organizations with great potential. The existence of these two entities and their mutual cooperation speaks to the vibrancy of the city's growth. As noted by InSA on its official website:.