In This Issue:
Spotlight:
Once again, this month's spotlight is our upcoming event, the 2006 New Mexico-Chihuahua Business Encounter, "NAFTA Institute", "Supplier Meet the Buyer".
Partners:

Executive Director's Message:

The agenda for the 2006 New Mexico-Chihuahua Business Encounter,” which will take place on May 25-26, 2006 in Chihuahua City, is now set. This unique event will combine the activities of the “NAFTA Institute Conference”, the “Supplier Meet the Buyer Trade Mission” and elements of the New Mexico-Chihuahua Commission.

The Encounter is designed for the following people:

1) Businesspeople interested in selling their products to Mexican buyers, importing products from Mexico and/or becoming a supplier to Mexico’s maquiladora industry. The organizers of the Encounter will match potential Mexican buyers/sellers with participants in private business-to-business sessions.

2) Anybody interested in learning the mechanics of doing business with Mexico. During the event, topical experts will be discussing the various aspects of conducting cross-border business.

The Encounter is sponsored by the New Mexico Economic Development’s Office of Mexican Affairs, the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance, the World Trade Center El Paso/Juarez, El Centro de Desarrollo y Proveduría and the International Business Accelerator, and will be held in conjunction with the New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson- and Chihuahua Governor Jose Reyes Baeza-led New Mexico-Chihuahua Commission meeting.

We encourage anybody wanting to explore business opportunities in Mexico to accompany us in Chihuahua City.

The agenda and more details of the Encounter can be found below. Please sign up with us quickly, as space is limited. We hope that you can attend – please call me if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Jerry Pacheco
Announcements:
The 2006 New Mexico-Chihuahua Business Encounter:
"NAFTA Institute"
"Supplier Meet the Buyer"

Click here
for the
e-brochure.

Conference Agenda:
(subject to change)

Thursday, May 25th

  • 11:00am
    Meet at the New Mexico Border Authority parking lot at Santa Teresa Port of Entry and obtain travel visas
  • 12:00pm
    Depart to Chihuahua City on chartered bus (box-lunch served during travel)
  • 5:30pm
    Arrive in Chihuahua City and check-in at Westin Soberano Hotel
  • 6:00 - 6:30
    Overview of the maquiladora industry - Alberto Chretin, Intermex
  • 6:30 - 7:00
    How to become a maquiladora supplier - Michael Hissam, Delphi Automotive Systems
  • 7:30 - 9:30
    Board bus to depart to Chihuahua's State Capitol Building for a cocktail reception with:
    Juan Blanco - Mayor of Chihuahua City
    Alejandro Cano - State of Chihuahua Secretariat of Industrial Development
  • 10:00
    Return to Westin Soberano Hotel.

Friday, May 26th

  • 9:00 - 11:00am
    COPARMEX breakfast with NM Governor Bill Richardson and Chihuahua Governor Jose Reyes Baeza
  • 11:00 - 11:30
    Break (NAFTA Institute and B2B participants go to their respective rooms)
  • 11:30 - 12:00pm
    Cultural aspects of doing business between Mexico and the US - Armando Martinez and Peter Ibarbo, International Business Accelerator
  • 12:30 - 1:00
    US-Mexico Contractual Considerations - Jorge Ruiz, Baker and McKenzie
  • 1:00 - 1:30
    Clearing Shipments through US and Mexican Customs - Gilberto Arias, Arias Logistics
  • 1:30 - 2:30
    Santa Teresa/San Jeronimo Industrial Development Overview - Claude Billings, Verde Realty and Jaime Campos, NM Border Authority
  • 2:30 - 3:30
    Lunch and Closure:
    Comments By: Jay Kleberg, Bi-National Warehousing Services, LLC.
  • 3:30 - 4:00
    Check-out from Westin Soberano Hotel and depart to Santa Teresa
  • 9:00
    Arrive in Santa Teresa

*Note: for those participating only in the B2B sessions, these will commence immediately after the breakfast at the appropriate room in the Hotel Soberano.
Chihuahua's Fruit Fly Free Zone Status Provides Opportunities to Local Growers and Grocery Retailers
By Peter Ibarbo
International Trade Consultant

The state of Chihuahua has successfully been able to maintain its fruit fly free zone status, since the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS/USDA) declared eight municipalities in the state of Chihuahua as being free of the fruit fly plague on January 20th, 1999. One of the major fruits affected by this plague is the peach, which dates back to about 4,000 years as China’s first domesticated food crops. In most cases, peaches produced in the interior of Mexico are not allowed to cross state borders in order to prevent the contamination of fruit plagues spreading to other parts of the country. Peaches produced in the state of Chihuahua are allowed to be distributed nationally and internationally. In fact, the global demand for this commodity has been steadily increasing.

According to the USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service, the top global importers of nectarines and peaches are: Canada ($63 million), the United States ($60 million), EU25 ($51 million), Russia ($46 million), and Taiwan ($42 million). Peach consumption in Canada alone is roughly 80,000 tons per year. In the U.S., imports of peaches increased by 93.5% from 15,972 tons in 2004 to 30,912 tons in 2005, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of the Census. This represents a cost and lead-time advantage to local grocery retailers and peach growers seeking to satisfy the increasing demand for this commodity. One example of a company taking advantage of this growing market is, Frutas Casa Grande, a peach grower located less than 100 miles from the New Mexico-Chihuahua Border.

With twenty-seven years of experience, FCG cultivates peaches on over 800 acres of land with a production capacity of 6,500 tons per season. According to General Manager Jorge Prado, FCG produces 30 varieties of peaches between the months of June and October. This company is among the major producers in Mexico providing high-quality peaches, which are well-packaged, branded and ready to be place on retailers’ shelf-space. The access to this commodity can provide a competitive advantage to local retailers who need to respond quickly to customer demand. It is great to know that, while China, Italy, USA, Spain, Greece, and Turkey are the top producers of peaches, an abundant source of this commodity can also be easily available close to our border.

Trade Leads:
Marble and Granite
  • Business Type: Vendor
  • Country: Mexico
  • Description: A Chihuahua City based company with a subsidiary and warehouse in Santa Teresa, New Mexico that manufactures, distributes and installs granite, marble, and travertine tile is more than ready to quote prices and deliver products to buyers’ door. This company also provides custom design work to meet customers’ desired specifications. Please click here to view samples.


    Click here to view more examples.
Plastic Injection Mold & Molding
  • Business Type: Buyer
  • Country: USA
  • Description: A company in the U.S. is seeking quotes for the fabrication of a single cavity prototype mold with 800 ton press requirements to be used on ABS plastic as well as quotes on the production run for 5,000 units once the mold is created. Digital engineering drawings will be provided to plastic injection companies interested in quoting.
Clear Plastic Tubes
  • Business Type: Buyer
  • Country: USA
  • Description: An entrepreneur in Albuquerque, New Mexico is interested in outsourcing production and assembly of clear plastic tubes to be used as toilet tissue dispensers. The dimensions of this item consist of a 5” diameter, a tensile strength of 1/16th and a minimum length of 23”.

    Samples:

    Click each image for a larger version.
Arrowheads
  • Business Type: Vendor
  • Country: Mexico
  • Description: An arrowhead producer in Chihuahua City is interested in exporting a variety of arrowheads ranging in sizes 1 to 3 inches primarily in obsidian and other semi-precious stone in volumes of 30,000 per month.
Bat Guano
  • Business Type: Buyer
  • Country: USA
  • Description: An organic fertilizer distributor in Las Cruces, New Mexico is interested in buying one truckload of bat guano per month FOB, El Paso or FOB, Santa Teresa. This client is wiling to provide jumbo bags for packaging if needed.
Oxidized Copper Name Tags
  • Business Type: Buyer
  • Country: USA
  • Description: An exclusive iron furniture designer in the U.S. is interested in sourcing the production of iron or oxidized copper name tags. These tags are to be used as labels for exclusive furniture items.


    Click image for a larger version.
Textiles (Mattress Covers)
  • Business Type: Buyer
  • Country: USA
  • Description: A US manufacturer of various furniture protection covers is interested in sourcing production of their most popular mattress covers. The following is a description of each product line, which must be packed 4 units per case shipped to buyers door:
    • Premium - 50%/50% Cotton/Polyester with a 15" Nylon skirt and 6 oz. fill. Sizes required: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, Olympic Queen, King, California King

      Volume - 25,000 / 50,000 / 75,000 per year

    • Supreme - 100% Cotton - 200 Thread count with a 20" skirt and 8 oz. fill. Sizes required: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, Olympic Queen, King, California King

      Volume - 25,000 / 50,000 / 75,000 per year

    • Supreme Waterproof - 100% Cotton - 200 Thread count with laminated backing, a 20" Nylon skirt and 8 oz. fill. Sizes required: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, Olympic Queen, King, California King

      Volume: 50,000 / 20,000 / 30,000 per year

    • Terry Cloth Protector - includes an insert as in the sample. Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, Olympic Queen, King, California King

      Volume: 50,000 / 75,000 / 100,000 per year


      Click images for a larger version.
For additional information on these and other trade leads please contact the IBA by phone at (505) 589-2200, by email at info@nmiba.com, or on the web at nmiba.com
Upcoming Events:
When:
May 2nd and 4th
Where:
May 2nd - Chicago, Illinois,
May 4th - Detroit, Michigan
For More Info Click Here		 MexicoNow 22nd Mexico and China Conference

Conference Objectives:
  • Objectively analyze the business conditions for manufacturing in Mexico and China.
  • Interact with plant managers with operating experience in both countries.
  • Obtain detailed and privileged information to help you decide which country is more viable for your company's offshore manufacturing plans.
  • Special coverage of India's business environment, call centers, software and business process operations centers.
  • Develop an itemized cost operating pro-forma of a potential offshore manufacturing project in China or Mexico.
  • Interact with Chinese and Mexican promoters and government officials.

For more information please call:
USA: 1-877-864-8528
Mexico: 01 800 170 1010
+52 (614) 414 8640, 38

or on the web:
http://www.mexico-now.com/2006/conf-chidetroit-may06.htm
When:
May 11th , 18th
Where:
Online Seminar
For More Info Click Here		 Intellectual Property Rights in China
Webinar Series

Protecting and enforcing the intellectual property rights of U.S. businesses in China is critical to the success of your industry. As an industry association, you can play a critical role in assisting your member companies on these issues. Keeping updated on the latest developments is integral to this effort. Therefore, we invite you and your member companies to participate in this new China IPR webinar series.

There will be two special kickoff events in May and than from June until December 2006, the webinars will be held the second Thursday of each month from 2pm – 3:30pm EST. The program is free.

No special software or configurations on your computer are needed to participate. You need only a phone line and computer with an internet connection. Dial-in and Log-in Instructions will be sent to you a week before the program.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Ellen Szymanski at (202) 482-5244. To be added to our mailing list, or to register for the May programs, please send your contact information to ChinaIPR@mail.doc.gov.
When:
May 17th & 18th
Where:
Centro Convenciones Cibeles, Cd. Juarez, Mexico
For More Info Click Here		 Logistica 2006

The largest tradeshow and conference dedicated 100% to promote Logistics Services in Cd. Juarez, Chih. Two days packed with educational and innovative solution sessions focused specifically on logistics and distribution operations. This conference provides the tools and techniques you need to improve your logistics and distribution knowledge, solution development and operation performance. You'll hear from expert speakers, exchange ideas with your peers, and enjoy networking with many logistics and distribution thought leaders.

The event is designed for senior and middle-level managers responsible for domestic and international supply chain and logistics systems in the maquiladora industry. The program is valuable for operations, logistics, inventory control, and transportation managers who want to ensure smooth production with as little inventory as possible, high customer service levels, and low system-wide cost. The program is also useful for mangers who want to gain a deeper understanding for the role supply chains play in a company's overall business strategy.

For questions please call Angelica Garcia:
Ph. 011.52.656.207.5543 / 656.648.3131
Email angelica.garcia@logistica2006.com
When:
May 25th and 26th
Where:
The Westin Soberano Hotel, Chihuahua City, Chih. MX.
For More Info Click Here		 The 2006 New Mexico-Chihuahua Business Encounter:
"NAFTA Institute"
"Supplier Meet the Buyer"

Please see the Announcements section for more information on this event.