The City of Pasco & Colima Pasco Friendship & Collaboration Association (COPA) are coordinating the visit of four high-ranking government officials from Colima, Mexico. The visit culminates with a symphony concert at the Pasco Farmers Market on September 24th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. featuring the Mid-Columbia Symphony and Pasco’s world-renowned tenor Jose Iniguez. Musicians from Colima will also take part in the concert.
The Colima-Pasco Friendship & Collaboration Association will welcome four high-ranking officials from the governor’s office of Colima, Mexico September 22nd through September 24th. The purpose of the visit is to foster better economic, educational, and cultural relationships with the City of Pasco and the state of Colima, Mexico. The visit will culminate with a free concert at the Pasco Farmers Market Pavilion featuring the Mid-Columbia Symphony, directed by Adrienne Fletcher. Other performers include the Mid-Columbia Master Singers and world-renowned tenor Jose Iniguez. The free concert will be the first-ever symphony concert in the City of Pasco.
The four delegates will have a full agenda of activities, beginning with a press conference on Thursday, September 22nd, at 9:15 at the Pasco Red Lion. Their tour will include Columbia Basin College, WSU Tri-Cities, Pasco City Hall, Pasco Public School District facilities, and a complete economic development tour of Franklin County on Friday.
“The tour and the concert are going to be incredible. We’re extremely excited to welcome these delegates from Colima, representing economic development, education, and the arts. Our ties to Colima are so strong, and I’ve wanted to build this partnership since I began working at the City of Pasco,” said Mike Gonzalez, the City of Pasco’s Economic Development Manager.
Thousands of Pasco’s Latino residents have ties to Colima, Mexico. Pasco’s Latino population is approximately 45,000, and it’s estimated that nearly 40 percent of Pasco’s Latino population have family connections to Colima. It is why this visit has such importance to the residents of Pasco.
“This visit is a tremendous opportunity to foster economic development ties to Colima, Mexico. It’s also an opportunity for the four delegates from the governess’ office to learn about our industries in Pasco and the Tri-Cities. We are also giving them an opportunity to tour our educational facilities and take a close look at how the arts are making an impact in Pasco. I’m looking forward to playing an important role in the visit,” said Pasco’s Mayor Blanche Barajas.
COPA is a non-profit 501(c)(3) formed four years ago. COPA visited the state of Colima in 2019 on an economic development mission with plans for further work; however, the pandemic paused visits for both sides. This year’s visit is garnering a lot of excitement for Pasco and Colima.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for the City of Pasco to build a great relationship with Colima’s delegation on a multitude of issues, including economic development, education, and trade relations, and set the stage for how we can work together in the future for the betterment of both of our great regions. I’m excited that our Mayor Blanche Barajas will be a big part of the visit. She will sign a proclamation of cooperation, and we are hoping that will lead to better relations with the state,” said COPA President Gabriel Portugal.
The guests from Colima will include Secretary of Education and Culture Adolfo Gonzalez-Nunez, Director of Economy Carlos Francisco Cuevas Rocha, Sub-Secretary of Culture Jose Emiliano Quintanilla-Zizumbo, and Secretary of Health Martha Janeth Espinosa-Mejia.
For more information, visit COPA's Facebook page.