BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A visiting advanced manufacturing executive believes the Port of Brownsville and the surrounding border ecosystem possess all the essential building blocks to transform into the next Shenzhen, China—a global powerhouse for high-tech manufacturing and automated hardware production.
Scott Li, managing director of RayTuring.Ai, made his second visit to the Rio Grande Valley recently to evaluate sites for an artificial intelligence and laser processing facility. During an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Li highlighted how Brownsville’s geographic position, proximity to Mexican manufacturing centers, deep-water port access, and emerging technology presence mirror the conditions that fueled Shenzhen’s explosive rise 40 years ago.
“If you go to Shenzhen, it’s a brand-new city that grew from a small fisherman’s wharf to a very famous high-tech city in about 40 years,” Li said. “The center [of China's economic zone] 40 years ago was quite similar to Brownsville today. This is something I try to mimic in terms of the idea.”
Li was a guest of UT-Rio Grande Valley’s Institute for Advanced Manufacturing. He appeared as a panelist at an event held in downtown Brownsville that was co-hosted by the university and Greater Brownsville Economic Development Corporation. In an interview with the RGG Business Journal, Li spoke about his extensive knowledge of advanced manufacturing in China. He said he sees similarities between where Brownsville is today and where Shenzhen was 20-odd years ago.
Li’s observations independently echo a concept first raised by Rio Grande Valley freight broker and Fast Port General Manager Steve Perez, who previously outlined a bold vision for a smart trade corridor linking the Port of Brownsville with Matamoros, Mexico. Perez noted that Brownsville’s multi-modal trade connectivity could establish it as North America's premier cross-border logistics and manufacturing node, drawing direct comparisons to Shenzhen's rise alongside Hong Kong.
Though Li and Perez have not collaborated, both executives reached identical conclusions from distinct viewpoints: Perez through regional logistics and binational trade corridors, and Li through 20 years of global laser processing, optics design, and industrial hardware experience across Boston, Switzerland, and Shanghai.
Li explained that current macroeconomic shifts—specifically nearshoring, reshoring, and the integration of artificial intelligence into industrial automation—make the U.S.–Mexico border the natural focal point for advanced manufacturing.
“I think the opportunity today for the Port of Brownsville is the U.S. trying to do local manufacturing,” Li stated. “San Jose is quite similar to Brownsville, and Mexico is like Hong Kong. Mexico brings a lot of manufacturing processes and expertise, while Brownsville acts as the bridge anchored by regional talent, universities, and access to Texas markets.”
Li emphasized that combining advanced toolmaking—such as fiber laser cutting and 3D printing solutions—with artificial intelligence will drastically accelerate development timelines compared to China’s 40-year trajectory.
“AI is a multiplier that manages workforce productivity by 100 times,” Li added. “With AI, you have a much faster speed.You don’t need another 40 years to do that—maybe four or five years. That is my expectation, and I plan to join as soon as possible.”
Li’s company, RayTuring.Ai, is currently searching for a facility in the region to launch its next-generation laser and AI integration project, joining a growing corridor of high-tech and aerospace ventures choosing South Texas as their launchpad.
