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On July 30-31, 2008, The Office of Mexican Affairs of the New Mexico Economic Development Department and the New Mexico Department of Health are co-sponsoring a free summit entitled “Economic Consequences of Pandemic Influenza: Protecting Your Business and Employees.” The Summit will be held at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, located at 1200 Futurity, in Sunland Park, New Mexico.  It will provide attendees with information on the differences between seasonal and pandemic influenza, how a pandemic could affect global, national, and local economy and society, planning tools for protection of employees and workplaces, and issues impacting bi-national trade and commerce, including ongoing planning efforts of both countries and the Security and Prosperity Partnership, a tri-lateral initiative of the United States, Mexico and Canada.  It is hoped that this forum will provide the basis for future planning to ensure minimal disruption to trade and commerce in this vibrant region.

Click here for a copy of the tentative agenda.

To register click here.

The El Paso Chamber of Commerce and the BizTech Technology Committee will host the 10th Annual BizTech Technology Expo and Showcase on October 16, 2008 in El Paso, Texas at the El Paso Judson Convention Center.  Biztech is the Southwest Region’s largest meeting place for thousands of information technology professionals, community and business leaders, telecommunications providers, fellow entrepreneurs, and others looking for the best in technology solutions from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

BizTech draws an estimated 1,500 attendees and approximately 80 exhibitors and sponsors, including Cisco Systems, Dell, Microsoft, Nextel and Verizon Wireless, among others.

For more information visit the website at www.biztechep.com.

The NAFTA Institute
By Jerry Pacheco

The IBA joined with other trade-support agencies to participate in the 2008 NAFTA Institute/Supplier Meet the Buyer Conference on June 26 and 27, 2008, in Sunland Park, New Mexico. As has been the case for the past several years, the conference featured topical experts presenting on various aspects of international trade, and business-to-business sessions between buyers and sellers. During the past couple of years, the conference attendance has grown, with businesspeople, organizations, and companies from the U.S., Canada and Mexico participating.

As we were preparing for the conference, I was nervous about the potential negative effects that the drug violence in northern Mexico and the soft U.S. economy would have on this year’s attendance. I also was concerned that the anti-North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rhetoric that has become a political factor in the U.S. presidential campaign might negatively influence the ability of the conference to attract participants. 

When the final conference attendance list was put together, more than 600 people had registered to learn about doing business in North America and to network with potential buyers, sellers and distributors. In terms of attendance, this was the biggest trade conference of any type that has ever been held in New Mexico, West Texas, or northern Mexico. Seeing and meeting so many people at this event revealed several interesting points.

First, the doom-and-gloom scenario by the anti-NAFTA coalition seems to be more politically rather than business based. I had a multitude of opportunities to talk with participants about why they were at the conference and about the NAFTA agreement itself. Of the hundreds of people I spoke to, not a single person railed against the agreement or advocated a modification in its structure.

Mexican businesspeople I spoke to were generally perplexed at the backlash against an agreement which they viewed as beneficial to the U.S. as well as to its North American partners. As one participant commented to me, “I would bet that most people don’t even know what the acronym NAFTA stands for or what the agreement is about, yet many Americans seem determined to oppose it.”  

Based on conference attendance, trade opportunities are not the sole domain of larger, more industrial concerns. The conference had a healthy representation of industrial suppliers of metals, plastic injection, powder coating, and packaging who attended to identify new business opportunities with the purchasing agents of Mexican maquiladoras (twin plants), looking to expand their supplier base. However, just as many smaller “mom and pop” companies attended the conference to find suppliers or buyers. Email, the internet, electronic banking, and efficient logistics make the ability of smaller companies to participate in the global market more viable than ever. Most companies that I met at the conference were exploring opportunities in the NAFTA zone in order to survive and grow.

Geography is not a barrier for companies wanting to buy or sell products in the NAFTA zone. When NAFTA is discussed within a U.S perspective, it often is assumed that businesses closer to the border are in a better position to trade with Mexico or Canada, and that companies removed from the border are at a severe disadvantage. Some people might say, “Of course, border-based businesses are going to have more of an interest in NAFTA than companies from other parts of the U.S.” However, companies which attended the conference were not limited to border-based businesses. They came from New York to California, and places in between. Companies came from the interior of Mexico, and one even came from Ireland. 

In spite of the violence in Mexico and the soft U.S. economy, there remains a hunger to trade in companies from the U.S. and Mexico. The Mexican press was in full force at the conference and the most popular question asked of me and other participants was “Is the drug violence in Mexico affecting the interest in doing business in Mexico?” My standard answer to this question was that if the violence doesn’t subside, it could have long-term repercussions which could result in companies avoiding Mexico and looking to do business elsewhere. However, as was evidenced by the high attendance at the conference, there is still a strong interest on behalf of the U.S business community to trade with Mexico.

Often in the U.S Southwest, when we think about NAFTA, we only tend to think in terms of U.S.-Mexico trade – Canada is an afterthought. By the same token, Canadians can become prone to ignoring the tremendous opportunities that exist on the U.S.-Mexico border. Justin Kardish, Assistant Trade Commissioner at the Canadian Consulate in Phoenix, Arizona, discussed the products that Canada imports from its North American partners. Many are energy, agricultural, transportation or high-tech oriented, aligning nicely with the industries in the U.S.-border region. Canada exports automotive, wood, paper, aircraft and aluminum products to the U.S. and Mexico – products that are in high demand by the industrial base at the U.S.-Mexico border. 

By working together to make trade easier between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, we are all better equipped to compete in the global market. I met U.S. companies at the conference who had formed or were interested in forming joint ventures with Mexican and Canadian companies in order to remain competitive with European- or Asian-based competitors. NAFTA is simply a tool that brings down barriers to facilitate trade between the North American partners. The North American trading bloc can effectively compete against other trade blocs, but only if we look at our situation collectively, rather than Mexico vs. the U.S., the U.S. vs. Canada and so on. 

For a list of conference participants, conference presentations, and trade leads generated at the conference, please visit www.nmiba.com.

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description:A newly established chipotle chile pickling company located in Chihuahua City is interested in supplying pickled chipotle chile packaged in 250 ml jars to interested food retailers and/or food suppliers:

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: Located in Juarez, this company produces refreshing mint-flavored water packaged in 500 ml plastic bottles. The company is interested in exporting products to the U.S. and is searching for qualified distributors.

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: With over two years in the market, this company produces fired-burned California type chile peppers cooked with cheese, onions and condiments, known as "chile con queso". This company is interested in exporting to the U.S.

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: This newly establish company manufactures red & green mole sauce with 100% natural ingredients (no preservatives). This company is interested in selling to food distributors and or grocery retailers. This company is also looking to source packaging (500 mg jars).

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: This red chile sauce producer has been in business for 40 years and is interested in expanding its market share in the U.S. It is targeting the Mexican-American consumer market and is interested in meeting with food retailers and/or food distributors.
  

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: Located in Chihuahua City and with approximately ten years on the market, this Mexican pastry manufacturer is interested in supplying supermarkets, distributors and pastry boutiques with a variety of Mexican pastries.

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: A manufacturer of a Mexican milk candy known as “cajeta” is interested in supplying retail stores, supermarkets and distributors. This product is packaged in 350 - 640 gram squeezable bottles.
  

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: Located in Chihuahua City, this habanero pepper producer is interested in supplying retail stores, supermarkets and/or distributors. The habanero pepper hot sauce is packaged in 5 oz. bottles and consists of a mix of habanero peppers, carrots, garlic and onion. This company also has habanero pepper concentrate paste available in 8.8 oz. bottles.

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: With fifteen years of experience in the market, this USDA certified organic pecan producer is interested in supplying organic food chain stores or distributors.

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: A newly established chipotle chile and home-style salsa producer is interested in selling to commercial restaurants and food retailers.
  

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: Located in Chihuahua City, Mexico, this coffee supplier is interested in selling a variety of chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, and amaretto flavored coffees wholesale to commercial restaurants, supermarkets and distributors.

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: With 12 years in the market, this company is interested in supplying a variety of spices, condiments, grains and dried chile products to food suppliers. Some of the products include crushed black pepper, cumin, oregano, laurel, clove, lentils, garbanzo beans, and peanuts.
  

• Commercial Activity: Buyer
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: This company owns a coffee shop and is interested in sourcing a supply of Mexican, Guatemalan, Honduran and Costa Rican grown coffees.
  

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: U.S.
• Description: This company manufactures and distributes an innovative oven used for baking flatbread, pizza, tortillas, and specialty breads.  It is looking for distribution in the Mexican market.

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: This company is interested in supplying food distributors with triangular shaped corn tostadas (“totopos”), rounded nacho tostadas, and whole tostadas.
  

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: U.S.
• Description: Established in Albuquerque, New Mexico this Native American company is interested in establishing distribution channels in Mexico for its line of economical tobacco cigarettes.

• Commercial Activity: Supplier
• Country of Origin: Mexico
• Description: A newly established tequila producer is interested in distributing blue agave tequila to wholesalers/distributors in the U.S. who are licensed to distribute distilled spirits.   
  

Economic Consequences of Pandemic Influenza:
Protecting Your Business and Employees

The Office of Mexican Affairs and the New Mexico Department of Health are co-sponsoring a Summit entitled “Economic Consequences of Pandemic Influenza: Protecting Your Business and Employees.” The Summit is scheduled for July 30-31 at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, 1200 Futurity, Sunland Park, New Mexico.
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak.  An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population, begins to cause serious illness and then spreads easily person-to-person worldwide. Historically, the 20th century saw 3 pandemics of influenza:

• 1918 - influenza pandemic caused at least 675,000 U.S. deaths and up to 50 million deaths worldwide
• 1957 - influenza pandemic caused at least 70,000 U.S. deaths and 1-2 million deaths worldwide
• 1968 - influenza pandemic caused about 34,000 U.S. deaths and 700,000 deaths worldwide

In the event of a pandemic influenza, businesses will play a key role in protecting employees’ health and safety and limiting the negative impact to its continuity of operations, the economy and society.  The business sector along the U.S. – Mexico border faces unique challenges from a pandemic including interruption of air, land and rail transportation, limited access at international ports of entry, and worker absenteeism of 40-50% due to personal or family illness or border closure that prevents them from traveling to their workplaces.

This Summit will provide attendees information on the differences between seasonal and pandemic influenza, how a pandemic could affect global, national, and local economy and society, planning tools for protection of employees and workplaces, and issues impacting binational trade and commerce, including ongoing planning efforts of both countries and the Security and Prosperity Partnership, a tri-lateral initiative of the United States, Mexico and Canada.  It is hoped that this forum will provide the basis for future planning to ensure minimal disruption to trade and commerce in this vibrant region.

Click here for a copy of the tentative agenda.

To register click here

The 9th Annual Santa Teresa Charity Golf Tournament

For more information please see the article above.

BizTech

The El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce thanks you for supporting BizTech 2008, the region’s premier technology conference. In its tenth year, the show has grown to a great success and we credit that to the tremendous support of the business community.

BizTech is the Southwest Region’s largest meeting place for thousands of information technology professionals, community and business leaders, telecommunications providers, fellow entrepreneurs, and others looking for the best in technology solutions from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico Border.

BizTech, draws an estimated 1,500 attendees and nearly 80 exhibitors and sponsors including Cisco Systems, Dell, Microsoft, Nextel, and Verizon Wireless, just to name a few. Past sponsors recognize that Texas has a tremendous Hispanic buying market with approximately $113 billion annually. The border region and technology are critical to the State’s economic growth.

Your sponsorship will give your company a high profile presence at this important event and will recognize your commitment to the border region marketplace. The sponsorship schedule illustrates the many benefits of investing in BizTech at multiple levels. We trust you will find sponsoring BizTech 2008 to be beneficial and we appreciate your support of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the El Paso community, and the Paso del Norte region.

If you have any questions regarding sponsorship opportunities or would like further information on BizTech, please contact: Barbara Walker bawalker@cisco.com, Peter Cooper at PCooper@epcounty.com or EPHCC Staff Rebeca Rodriguez at 566-4066 or via e-mail at rrodriguez@ephcc.org.

For more information visit the website at www.biztechep.com.

Fulbright Scholarship Deadline

The program combines graduate courses (a minimum of three and a maximum of six) in the pertinent academic area (e.g., business,finance, international trade or comparative law among others) with an internship within a Mexico-based company, firm, or NGO dedicated to international business. 

 ELIGIBILITY

 Excellent spoken and written Spanish is required at the time of application. Candidates must be U.S. citizens.  Candidates with an M.B.A. or a J. D. or an M.A./M.S. in business administration, finance,economics, international relations, engineering, accounting, and some work experience are preferred. Candidates with an undergraduate degree in one of the fields above will also be considered. Significant work experience in a business environment is strongly recommended for these candidates and for candidates who do not have a business-related degree.

For more information contact:

Jody Dudderar
U.S. Student Programs
809 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017-3580
U.S.A.
jdudderar@iie.org
212-984-5565

DEADLINE NOTE

The application cycle for the 2009-2010 U.S. Fulbright Student competition opens on May 1, 2008. The deadline for applications to be received electronically by the Institute for International Education is October 20, 2008. Hard copy applications and all support documents must be received by October 22, 2008.