Gov. McAuliffe leading Virginia’s first trade mission to Mexico

Governor Terry McAuliffe is leading a three-day trade and marketing mission to Mexico May 1-4, 2017.  Accompanying the governor are Todd Haymore, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Basil Gooden, Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, and representatives from Virginia Economic Development Partnership and Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The delegation will visit Guadalajara and Mexico City.

According to a news release, the Governor and his delegation will participate in 10+ meetings during the mission. The Governor will meet with senior business executives and government officials, including Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Minister of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray Caso, to promote Virginia as a business location and tourism destination. The delegation will also encourage trade opportunities for Virginia agricultural and forestry products including: pork, wheat, apples, poultry, lumber, wine, tobacco, and specialty food and beverage products.

Governor McAuliffe was quoted as saying in a press release, “Our goal is to showcase Virginia’s business-friendly environment and assets like our world-class ports and airports, skilled workforce and high quality of life. At the same time, this mission present sales opportunities for Virginia businesses and will serve as a recruitment effort for new investments in the Commonwealth. Through this mission, we will continue to enhance the mutually beneficial, bilateral trade and investment relationship we enjoy with Mexico.”

In addition to one-on-one business meetings, Governor McAuliffe will host a reception to showcase Virginia’s economic strengths, including agriculture, food and beverage assets, and great quality of life to prospective corporate investors and travelers. This marks the Governor’s 26th trade and marketing mission and his first to Mexico.

Between 2012 and 2016, Mexico-based businesses ranked 11th in terms of announced new jobs and 14th in announced capital investment in the Commonwealth. Mexico is one of Virginia’s largest export destinations, ranked third for overall exports of Virginia goods and services in 2015, and sixth in agriculture and forestry exports in 2016, the release stated.