Dallas Regional Chamber Launches Mexico City Trade and Investment Office
October 9, 2008The Dallas Regional Chamber will launch a new International Trade and Investment Office in Mexico City today, October 9. As part of the launch activities,e Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert will join a group of more than 30 North Texas CEOs and executives scheduled to meet with Mexican business leaders to discuss joint projects and potential investment opportunities.
The Mexico City office, hosted by Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP/ Gardere, Arena y Asociados, S.C., is intended to provide the Dallas Regional Chamber and local leaders another opportunity to engage Mexican business leaders to foster strategic economic activity. “As a Dallas Regional Chamber board member, I am proud to provide this resource to an organization that does so much to promote business between two important markets for Gardere — Mexico and Texas,” says Steve Good, Managing Partner, Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP.
The Mexico City office will provide regional statistics, promotional materials, and other information and services to promote the DFW region in Mexico. “Gardere’s Mexico City office welcomes the Dallas Regional Chamber to our office and our city. I see continued positive prospects for business growth between U.S. and Mexican companies, and we are glad to support such economic development,” says Roberto Arena Reyes Retana, Managing Partner for Gardere, Arena y Asociados.
Victor Almeida, CEO of Interceramic Inc., Dallas Regional Chamber Board Member, and Chairman of the Chamber’s International Business Council, is leading efforts to promote investment opportunities abroad. “As the Chairman of the International Business Council, I am very pleased to have Mayor Tom Leppert joining us in Mexico City for the opening of the new office. We have set up several high profile meetings to generate great interest between top business executives in Mexico City and North Texas,” says Mr. Almeida.
Mexico is the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area’s 14th top trading partner, with nearly $740 million in air cargo-based traded goods. Dallas-area companies are net exporters to Mexico by a ratio of nearly 2-1. Dallas has already signed agreements with four Mexican ports to explore using the region as an inland trade port.
Through the support of International Business Council investors and partners, the Chamber provides similar services in additional offices abroad, including offices in London, Monterrey, and Shanghai. The International Business Council plans to open other offices around the globe in 2009.
