Guanajuato Mexico
I joined an Arizona business delegation to Guanajuato, Mexico, (map) organized by my longtime friend Carlos Alfaro, who leads Arizona Talks, a non-profit organization that engages people in a variety of social and political conversations. He brings citizens with different viewpoints together, Democrats, Republicans and Independents, to network, debate respectfully, and build lasting bridges. He formed a small delegation to connect Arizona with international partners and foster sister-city and trade relationships. For this trip, he focused on Guanajuato to connect businesses
Upon arrival we instantly noticed how clean the city was. We checked into La Posada, a historic hotel that felt like old Europe. We found ourselves surrounded by ornate paintings, classic architecture, and two centuries of stories in the walls. We had about ten minutes to get ready before a government car picked us up.
Our first stop was the state government palace, El Palacio to meet Governor Libia García Muñoz Ledo. She’s the first woman to hold the office in Guanajuato and describes herself as a conservative focused on serving the people. Around the table was her Cabinet. The conversation centered on opportunities for Arizona–Guanajuato collaboration: business exchange, education, and cultural ties.
Afterward, the Governor invited us to a special performance at Teatro Juárez, one of Mexico’s most historic theaters. The security was impressive, how they moved our group around safely. We toured behind the scenes and then sat in the Governor’s balcony. The velvet seats, the curtains, the murals, everything felt 19th-century. After the show, there was a special dinner waiting for us. About 25 state senators hosted us for a formal meal at another landmark hotel restaurant. There was a long table, flowers, photographers, and a steady stream of introductions and handshakes. It ran from about 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and it truly felt like a red-carpet welcome.
The next morning, we met in the lobby to go visit the state Congress building. When we got there we saw the TV cameras, photographers, and a roundtable of senators ready to speak on how we can connect Arizona and Guanajuato. It was the 66th anniversary of their Congress. They explained that there are 47 regions and how each senator represents them. After a light snack there, we visited a 250-year-old library where curators showed us several rare books, one nearly 500 years old! The climate control and preservation setup were impressive.
We then toured a historic building that once housed the state Senate—now a museum. Standing where was powerful. Lunch followed at a well-known downtown restaurant. From there, we toured the Universidad de Guanajuato, originally an orphanage and later a monastery before becoming one of Mexico’s oldest universities. That night we celebrated with the delegation, then called it a night.
In the morning we prepared to visit Guanajuato’s modern industrial logistics platform, miles of warehouses, rail spurs, and distribution hubs. We discussed the state’s exports, with leather goods being a signature strength, shoes, handbags, wallets, often compared favorably with Italy’s craftsmanship. The United States, Japan and many other countries are significantly investing here.
Next was a state-of-the-art technical training center. It looked like a brand-new American trade school, modern labs, machining, clean-room prep, welding bays, programming and automotive systems. Students train to step straight into jobs with local and international manufacturers. The Dean welcomed us to a nice lunch, and discussed how the school system works. Then, he invited me personally to speak with women transitioning out of domestic-violence situations. That invitation meant the world to me.
The trip changed my perspective. Mexico is rich in history and modern in technology, talent, resources, and drive. With the right leadership and investments, people don’t have to leave to succeed. Mexico can stand fully on its own and thrive. For me, this was about faith in people, practical collaboration, and believing in shared prosperity on both sides of the border.
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