A collaborative study developed by World Trade Center San Diego, unveiled at the 2025 Cali-Baja Business Summit, featuring ITJ as a case study and including insights from CFO Randy Baddo
SAN DIEGO, November 19, 2025 — ITJ participated alongside World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) in the release of the 2025 Binational Trade & Competitiveness Report, serving as one of the report’s underwriters and contributing insights on the region’s nearshore engineering landscape.
Developed by World Trade Center San Diego, the report highlights how Cali-Baja has evolved into one of the world’s most dynamic cross-border economies—an integrated hub where advanced manufacturing, life sciences, aerospace, medical devices, clean energy, and technology flow seamlessly between both sides of the border.
Key Highlights from the Report
The study reinforces what those of us in the region already know: Cali-Baja is uniquely positioned to lead North America’s next chapter of innovation and supply-chain resilience.
Some of the most notable findings include:
• $2.3B+ in goods cross the U.S.–Mexico border daily
• 95,000 local jobs supported in aerospace, medical devices, electronics, and clean energy
• Mexico is now the U.S.’s top trading partner under USMCA
• The services sector is the region’s fastest-growing engine, with rapid growth in U.S.–Mexico services trade
These findings confirm that binational collaboration is no longer an advantage — it’s a competitive necessity.
ITJ Featured as a Case Study in Regional Competitiveness
As part of the report, ITJ was highlighted as an example of how binational software engineering and nearshore innovation strengthen North America’s ability to build resilient, high-skill technology ecosystems.
Our model, proximity-based engineering teams operating in Baja California with seamless collaboration in San Diego, demonstrates how the region is shifting from a manufacturing-centric economy to a knowledge-driven one.
This evolution is reshaping North American innovation, talent development, and digital transformation across life sciences, medtech, biotech, cybersecurity, and advanced software engineering.
Randy Baddo Shares ITJ’s Perspective on Nearshore Talent
During the Binational Competitiveness Outlook 2025 session at the Summit, Randy Baddo, ITJ’s Chief Financial Officer, joined regional leaders to discuss the role of binational engineering talent in driving long-term economic growth.
Randy emphasized the increasing demand for specialized software and engineering talent across life sciences and medtech, and how nearshore teams in Baja California help U.S. companies build, scale, and innovate without the constraints of distance, cost, or talent shortages.
His remarks reinforced the report’s findings: the Cali-Baja region is not just a manufacturing hub, it is a high-value technology corridor shaping the future of North American competitiveness.
“Nearshore engineering teams in Baja California give U.S. life sciences companies the ability to scale faster, without compromising on quality or compliance,” said Randy Baddo, Chief Financial Officer at ITJ.
A Shared Vision for North America’s Innovation Future
The launch of this report marks an important milestone for the region. For ITJ, it represents the mission that guides our work every day: developing world-class engineering talent in Mexico to power the innovation of U.S. life sciences and technology companies.
By investing in binational research, supporting regional economic development, and creating high-skill opportunities on both sides of the border, ITJ remains committed to strengthening the Cali-Baja innovation ecosystem for decades to come.
Read the Full Report
For an in-depth look at the data and insights shaping the future of the region, explore the complete World Trade Center San Diego study here: