La Libertad Avanza's mayor, Diego Valenzuela, recently returned from a learning trip to Texas, United States, with the conviction that it is possible to attract investment and generate development if bureaucratic obstacles are eliminated, taxes are lowered, and life is made easier for the private sector.
The municipal chief reflected on the lessons of the Texan model and its application in the Argentine context, especially in his municipality, Tres de Febrero, in Buenos Aires Province.
Valenzuela chose to visit Texas not only because of its sustained economic growth, but also because of its approach to public management. "I went with a learning spirit. Texas is a state that is growing rapidly, attracts investment, multiplies opportunities, and shows how to manage better, with more freedom and less bureaucracy," he explained. From his perspective, it is key to look at how successful territories are managed in order to draw inspiration and implement changes at the local level.
What impacted the mayor the most was the approach of local Texan governments, which consider their own residents as investors. "It is the taxpayers who make it possible for a company to settle in a city. Governments understand this: they compete, facilitate, and support," he detailed.
In cities such as Houston, Austin, or Round Rock, he observed a model where competition among municipalities to attract investment becomes a driver of development.
Among the most effective tools he observed, Valenzuela highlighted local-level policies such as tax incentives, clear rules, and the use of technology. "They don't wait for everything to come from the central state. They take action, act, and achieve results," he pointed out, marking a difference with the prevailing logic in Argentina.
