Seminar to boost Mexico trade, tourism

A seminar to be held in the capital city on August 25 will offer local travel agencies and exporters access to information about business opportunities and ways to promote trade and tourism between Viet Nam and Mexico.

"Since Viet Nam’s entry into the WTO, many opportunities have opened up to consolidate bilateral trade," said Sergio Rivadeneyra, the charge d’affaires of the Mexican embassy in Ha Noi, which is organising the event.

"This seminar on trade and tourism has a primary objective to provide more information about Mexican companies, our economy, and our free trade agreements, and therefore serve as a foundation for building a stronger relationship," Rivadeneyra said.

"Relationship begins by getting to know one another. Mexico wants to know about Viet Nam, and we want to show the Vietnamese people the benefits and opportunities of engaging in trade ant tourism with us," he said.

At the seminar, the Mexican Council for Tourism Promotion will introduce the Mexican tourism market, emphasising the cultural and historical heritage of Mexico.

Mexico’s trade representative for Asia, Salomon Sacal, will make a presentation on the many trade possibilities between the two countries, pointing out advantages in particular sectors and other useful information.

Bilateral trade between Mexico and Viet Nam reached US$500 million in 2008. Textiles and footwear were major export products, although exports of seafood, beverages, plastics and pharmaceuticals were also significant, Rivadeneyra said.

"The governments of both countries have agreed to boost bilateral co-operation in all fields, leading to Mexico’s effort to organise this first seminar on trade and tourism," he added.

He admitted that, up to now, there was no Mexican investment in Viet Nam, although some Mexican businesses in the garment, construction and food processing sectors, were eyeing the Vietnamese market.

"As far as we know, there is also no investment of Vietnamese capital in Mexico. We hope that this seminar will provide more information to potential Vietnamese investors, whether they want to travel as tourists or to build resorts," Rivadeneyra said. "We hope to see more of Viet Nam in Mexico and more of Mexico in Viet Nam."

Mexico is an export-oriented economy, posting an export turnover of almost $294 billion in 2008. It’s a member of the OECD and of the North American Free Trade Area, and is also a party to 12 other free-trade agreements with 44 countries.

Boasting a 3,000-year-old culture, Mexico offers white sandy beaches, beautiful colonial towns, 26 UNESCO World Heritage sites, and many leisure possibilities.

In 2007, Mexico ranked eighth in the world in international tourist arrivals, with 22 million tourists, earning $13 billion in tourism revenue and placing 14th place in tourism income worldwide.

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