While breakfasting recently at the University Club on the 34th floor of Symphony Towers, I looked south and clearly saw the hillsides of Tijuana. From such a high vantage point Tijuana seems near, an extension of San Diego. But when walking the streets of Downtown San Diego, Tijuana is out of direct sight, leaving it for many to become a far-off foreign city.

While the breakfast vantage point led to much table discussion about how much San Diegans do not know about Mexico and the economy of the Greater Tijuana Region, which includes Tijuana, Tecate, Rosarito and Ensenada, the other side of the coin is just as interesting: The business leaders south of the border are much better informed about us.

My goal in the coming months is to work with San Diego Metropolitan to help reverse that situation. For starters, look for more information on and coverage of leading organizations such as the Tijuana Economic Development Corp.; COPARMEX, the prestigious chamber of business owners; CANACINTRA, the chamber of the manufacturing industry; and CANACO, the chamber of commerce.

People also are making a difference. People like Tijuana's Flavio Olivieri, the recipient of one of the first master's degrees in e-commerce from National University; Alejandra Mier y Teran, executive director of the Otay Chamber of Commerce; Leticia Ramirez, director of international services for Alvarado Hospital; Russell Bennett, director of international services for Sharp Healthcare; Enrique Morones, vice president of Hispanic and international marketing for the San Diego Padres; Jose Aroeste, vice president and international lending officer for First National Bank; Judy Harper, border development program officer with the San Diego Dialogue; and P.J. Padilla, president of Oscar Padilla Mexican Insurance.

I could fill the entire magazine with the names of this young breed of meaningful people straddling both sides of the border. It would take another edition, at least, to name all those not so young who have labored for years on both sides of the border. That may just be the subject of future columns.

Patrick Osio Jr. can be reached online at posiojr@aol.com or by mail: HispanicVista.com, 5020-D Baltimore Drive #339, La Mesa, CA 91941.