Nogales consulate is now marketing Mexico
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Last modified Tuesday, March 18, 2008 9:05 AM PDT
'The main purpose is to generate employment for nationals."
Nogales consulate is now marketing Mexico
By Denise Holley
The Mexican Consulate in Nogales, Ariz., has opened a Department of Economic Affairs to market Mexico as a choice location for trade, tourism and foreign direct investment.
"Mexico, for the last 14 years, has been recognized, admired and respected as a partner in NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement)," said Beatriz Lopez Gargallo, ambassador at the Mexican Consulate in Nogales.
Now the country wants to become a major participant at the global level, Lopez said at an opening reception for the department, held March 13 at the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas.
"Almost all our resources were focused on protection of Mexican nationals," said Dalya Salinas Perez, consul for press and economic promotion at the consulate in Nogales, in an interview.
But Mexican President Felipe Calderon has directed all the consulates and embassies of Mexico to promote the country as an economic destination, she said.
"The main purpose is to generate employment for nationals, so if they want to move to another country they do it as an option, not as a necessity," Salinas said.
Mexico is a stable country with a low inflation rate, a wealth of resources and a young population, said Arturo Macotela Galvan, director of the International Promotion Office for the Americas of ProMexico, at the opening reception.
ProMexico is a government agency created in July 2007 with the mission of "More Mexico in the world and more world in Mexico."
Macotela described Mexico as a "friend" county, with commercial treaties with 44 nations. "We are looking for specific business opportunities that have a high impact on job creation," he said.
Reforms
Mexicans are waiting on their legislative leaders to pass a package of reforms, Macotela said. He is optimistic that the country will invest $226 billion in new infrastructure between now and 2012, which would generate 720,000 new jobs, he said. Mexico also offers opportunities in tourism, real estate development, biotechnology, and the aerospace industry.
Bernardo Mendez, deputy consul at the Mexican consulate in Tucson, said he hoped the new requirements enacted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security would not put a damper on cross-border trade and tourism.
ProMexico's offices in Mexico and around the world can provide one-stop services for investors and act as an ombudsman and adviser on governmental procedures, Macotela said. "We are your personal business agents in Mexico."
The ProMexico office in Los Angeles, Calif., will also cover Arizona, Salinas said. But the consulates will work closely with ProMexico and can help potential investors at their locations.
In Nogales, call the consulate at (520) 287-3386.
http://www.nogalesinternational.com/art ... /news5.txt
