The governor of Sonora, Mexico, defended and even praised his state on its handling of immigration issues during a short press conference today that focused mostly on economic interaction between Arizona and its southern neighbor.

Gov. Guillermo Padres Elias gave the address at the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce as part of a two-day trip to Arizona during which he met with 15-20 Arizona businesses while touting Sonora as a profitable place to do business.

“The return rate is way higher than any other place they could invest,” Padres said.

Padres focused on Sonora’s economy and education, but also answered questions about drug cartels and the failed weapons sting Operation Fast and Furious.

Praising Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon, Padres said drug cartels are a regional issue in Mexico and that Sonora, which spans the entire length of Arizona’s southern border, is the country’s “safest border state.”

“You can’t talk about Mexico as a whole,” he said. “You have to talk about certain parts of Mexico that have that problem that we are tending to. Our president is the first president who has been brave enough to confront this, and we’re backing him up 100 percent.”

Crime in Nogales, Ariz., has declined, but the flow of drugs continues across Arizona’s southern border, according to Ramona Sanchez of the Drug Enforcement Administration. She stopped short, however, of coupling that with a reduction in violence.

“A lot of drugs do come from Sonora. It’s strategically located to get it across,” Sanchez said. “The amount of drugs has not declined. As far as violence, we can’t really attribute that.”

Padres said operations like Fast and Furious, which failed to track weapons that were illegally transported into Mexico, are a significant problem for the country’s security. He added that Mexico confiscates more than 100,000 weapons each year and that 90 to 95 percent are traced back to operations like Fast and Furious.

However, Padres did not place any specific blame for the debacle, stressing that the United States and Mexico have a vested interest in each other’s safety and need to continue to work together.

“Whatever (problem) is happening in the United States is a problem that our two countries have,” Padres said. “It’s not something that’s happening in Mexico – it’s something that is happening in North America.”

Calderon called on President Barack Obama to implement a system that enables the Mexican government to trace the origins of confiscated American weapons, Padres said.

Padres said despite the danger posed by drug cartels, Sonora’s growing economy contributes to its safety. He said Sonora has created 61,000 new jobs this year and that reducing unemployment decreases crime.

“We’re creating jobs (and) infrastructure, making the economy move,” he said.

In addition to job growth, Padres touted Sonora’s $1 billion investment in infrastructure, education and the state’s tourism industry.

Alan Mishkin, a real estate developer who works mostly in Maricopa County but owns properties in Sonora, attended the press conference and said he agrees that Sonora should not be associated with other parts of Mexico that struggle with drug cartels.

“I feel perfectly secure in Sonora. It really is a regional issue and not a national issue, just like here. There are problems in Detroit and Harlem, but that doesn’t stop me from coming to Phoenix,” Mishkin said. “It’s the safest state on the border, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the safest state in the country.”

Mishkin also said he was excited about Sonora’s investment into a hydraulics system, which will bring water from the southern portion of the state into the drier northern region. He said there were times when he was visiting Hermosillo in central Sonora and couldn’t get water from the sink. Making water more available could give some cities an economic boost, he said.

“If you don’t have water, the city can’t grow,” Mishkin said.

Larry Hall, owner of real estate developer Valcor Properties, said he owns waterfront properties in Sonora and that he was happy to hear that the state is looking to cooperate with Arizona businesses.

“All politics aside, we need trade (and) we need to keep windows open for dialogue,” he said. “I was glad to hear what he had to say.”