The International Business Accelerator
The International Business Accelerator is a one-stop shop of resources for New Mexican businesses and individuals wishing to introduce their product or service into the global market.
The IBA offers educational programs on how to export/import, an online resource guide of international trade materials, and an electronic database of international trade leads/joint venture opportunities. The IBA also leads outgoing and reverse trade missions of foreign buyers and sellers for the benefit of New Mexican companies. IBA's team of trade experts offers one-on-one counseling for businesses seeking assistance in meeting their international trade objectives
December 2009
Our Expo Maquila Trade Mission to Juarez, coordinated in conjunction with the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Office of Mexican Affairs and the Juarez Economic Development Association, went beautifully. The participating New Mexican companies had a series of one-on-one meetings with the purchasing managers of various Mexican maquiladoras. We are in the process of assisting our companies with their follow up. Please read below for more information on this mission.
As I always say, sometimes the best business prospecting can take place during rough times. In the case of the maquiladora industry, whose suffering parallels the U.S. economy, production plants are seeking new ways to reduce their costs and to become more productive. This entails diversifying their production base and looking for new technologies and methods to become “lean and mean.” I encourage New Mexican companies to start exploring their opportunities in the global market. We are here to help you with this process.
As we officially enter the holiday season, with Thanksgiving upon us, the IBA staff wishes all of you a safe and Happy Holidays!
Bruce King
Former New Mexico Governor Bruce King passed away at his Stanley, New Mexico ranch on November 13. As a three-term governor, King had a profound impact on the U.S.-Mexico border by advocating increased relations with Mexico and by establishing the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. He also was a founding member of the Border Governors Conference, which brings together the 10 governors of the U.S.-Mexico border region on an annual basis to address common issues.
King was the last of a breed of politicians who genuinely cared and personally related to people. It is said that anybody who knew the governor has his/her favorite stories about the man, and I am no exception. In 1991, I was on my way to open New Mexico’s first foreign commercial/tourism office in Mexico City, for which he had recently appointed me to this post, even though I was only 26 years old. When I walked into his office he grabbed me by the shoulder, smiled, and said to me in his folksy voice, “You’re going to do a good job for us down in Mexico, aren’t you?” I had been nervous about the appointment, but he immediately set me at ease.
Previous New Mexico governors had dealt with the issue of opening up a new port of entry to the west of El Paso. However, King made this one of his administration’s top priorities. The Santa Teresa site was chosen, and in early 1992, New Mexico, Chihuahua, and the Chihuahua Cattlemen’s Association finalized the details to establish a cattle port at Santa Teresa, the first tangible phase of the overall project. A grand opening for the port was planned by King with his counterpart from Chihuahua.
At the last minute, U.S. federal officials embroiled the cattle crossing ceremony in red tape, casting uncertainty over the project. In a classic Bruce King move, he told the federal representatives that whether they were ready or not, he was going ahead with the opening ceremony and that they could meet him at the site if they wished. He came to Santa Teresa, cut the ribbon on the cattle crossing, the federal officials backed off, and the first phase of the port of entry was completed. In spring of 1993, the commercial and vehicle crossing in Santa Teresa was opened.
Later that year, he visited me in Mexico City to inaugurate New Mexico’s new office. We made the official rounds with the high-level Mexican officials, and finally with President Carlos Salinas. During our visit with Luis Donaldo Colosio, the secretary of Mexico’s Environment Ministry, and later the 1994 candidate for president who was assassinated during a campaign stop in Tijuana, I had a Bruce King moment I’ll never forget.
The governor was engaged in a lively discussion with the Mexican minister. I was seated at a table with about 10 other officials, but rather than listening, I was more engrossed in contemplating the next meeting on our agenda. All of a sudden, I heard, “Ain’t that right Jerry? Why don’t you explain to Secretary Colosio what I mean?” I looked across the table to see both Governor King and Secretary Colosio looking directly at me, waiting for me to expound upon the governor’s point, which I had not heard. I was completely taken by surprise that he would ask me, a lower-level official, to speak directly to a high-level minister on his behalf.
I froze for a second and then tried to cover as many details of our visit as possible, hoping that I would touch upon whatever the governor wanted me to talk about. Governor King gave me a sly smile and then resumed his conversation with Colosio. After the meeting, one of his close aides told me that you always have to be on your toes when in a meeting with the governor, he can call on you anytime, no matter what your rank.
After our meetings, we headed to Mexico City’s main plaza, where the governor proceeded to shake the hands of all of the kids and street vendors. He examined a textile piece and was doing a good job to communicating with a young girl who didn’t speak English. King was so engaged in conversation with this young entrepreneur, that it was hard to drag him away.
The next day, we flew to Monterrey, Mexico, to attend the Border Governors’ Conference, where at the conclusion of the event, nine of the 10 border governors read prepared remarks. When it was his turn, King strode up to the podium, without any prepared remarks, and proceeded to speak from the heart about the importance of U.S.-Mexico relations. I was sitting near the interpreters’ booth. When the governor began to speak in his fast country drawl, the three interpreters in the booth jumped up from their seats scrambling to understand what he was saying. When he finished, the room burst into applause. You couldn’t help but love the man!
If the success of a person’s life is measured by how many people he/she has positively affected, then Governor King had a wildly successful life. He touched countless people and made our border region better.
Juarez Trade Mission, November 11 - 13, 2009
On November 11 through 13, 2009, the International Business Accelerator (IBA) and the Office of Mexican Affairs & Trade (OMA) organized an outbound trade mission to Juarez, Mexico. The purpose of the trade mission was to promote New Mexico exports by introducing qualified industrial suppliers to industrial buyers from the maquiladora industry, located in Juarez.
The IBA, OMA, the City of Juarez Economic Development Association, and the State of Chihuahua Industrial Development Department worked together to match the participating New Mexican suppliers’ outputs with the demand interests of the participating maquiladora purchasing managers.
The New Mexico companies that participated in this event included:
- Omega Trucking
- Bralco Metals
- Sun Automation
- Monarch Litho
- Georgia Pacific
- Southwest Dowel & Wood Products, LLC
- Albuquerque Printing
The New Mexico suppliers are currently working on production quotes and are conducting follow-up with these companies.
From left to right: Rafael Valdez of Deval Reps meets with Ronald Karaskiewicz of Sun Automation, Inc.
From left to right: Oscar Baca of Chamizal Trucking and Miriam Kotkowski of Omega Trucking meet with Ronald Karaskiewicz of Sun Automation, Inc.
From left to right: Leticia Lopez from Monarch Litho meets with purchasing managers from Cardinal Health.