!ah, Chihuahua!

Edgar Carrasco
Secretariat of Commercial and Tourism Development, State of Chihuahua

¡ah, Chihuahua!

Mexico is just now beginning to leverage its great global business potential. Recently it has been characterized as a prolific free trade agreement negotiator. Over the past seven years, thanks to the Mexican government’s vision to transform the nation into an export-based economy, it has established numerous free trade agreements with other nations in Latin America, the U.S. (via NAFTA), and the European Union. This pro-foreign trade position is well demonstrated by the State of Chihuahua.

During our international study tour, we met with the Secretariat of Commercial and Tourism Development for the Foreign Trade Department of the Mexican State of Chihuahua, Mr. Edgar Carrasco. His excellent multi-media presentation provided TWU’s MBA group with a wealth of information and a first-hand look at the rewards and challenges of international trade development.

His agency provides three types of support to businesses within the state of Chihuahua:

• Modern Commerce – helps small and medium companies with basic business tools
• Internal Commerce – helps micro, small and medium companies place their products into distribution both locally and throughout Mexico
• Exterior Commerce – helps companies develop export distribution channels. This division assisted 150 companies last year.

In support of the free trade agreements, particularly NAFTA, the State of Chihuahua has been actively developing many foreign trade-enhancement initiatives and tools. The picture at the beginning of this article is the cover of a comprehensive package designed by Mr. Carrasco’s department. These excellent promotional materials include a business and investor’s guide that describes the State of Chihuahua’s many natural and human resources, agriculture, infrastructure, technology, economy, and business opportunities. The official visitor’s guide, maps and historical information are included, too.
Given its large common border with the U.S., the state of Chihuahua has begun a significant marketing program to attract U.S. investment. Many manufacturing and assembly plants are now operating with cooperation and investment from major U.S. corporations in the automotive, industrial, and technology sectors. To date this trade-enhancing program has been very successful.

According to the “Doing Business in Chihuahua,” the State of Chihuahua’s Business and Investor’s guide (pictured at right), these pro-foreign trade initiatives have helped account for Chihuahua’s contribution of “4.6% of Mexico’s Gross Internal Product (GIP), which makes it the country’s fifth most important state economically.”
Edgar Carrasco, a dynamic and innovative representative for the State of Chihuahua, is as enthusiastic about the work still to be done as he is about the successes to date of Mexico’s federal and state agencies in stimulating foreign trade.

The State of Chihuahua has a web site for further business or tourist information: www.chihuahua.gob.mx. Also, Mr. Carrasco can be reached by phone (52-614) 429-3328 Ext. 4584, or e-mail at edgarcarrasco@yahoo.com.