2006 New Mexico-Chihuahua Business Encounter:
"NAFTA Institute"
"Supplier Meet the Buyer"

Identifying and qualifying a buyer or vendor is often a challenge for a business entering the global market. To address this issue, our coalition of agencies has combined the annual "NAFTA Institute Conference" with the annual "Supplier Meet the Buyer" B2B trade mission. This event will bring together maquila purchasing managers and potential maquila suppliers, and export/import interested companies to explore Mexican business opportunities. Participants will be provided meetings with qualified prospects that will take place during the New Mexico-Chihuahua Commission quarterly meeting. The coalition will receive participants' company information, search for and qualify best products, and arrange B2B meetings. During the event, topical experts will discuss the various aspects of conducting cross-border business for anybody interested in doing business in Mexico.

Trade specialists from New Mexico's Office of Mexican Affairs and the International Business Accelerator will be on hand to establish contacts, facilitate meetings, and to conduct follow-up for the participants.

Objectives
  • To allow established companies to network and interview with purchasing/vendor managers from large multinational corporations.
  • To generate Mexican business contacts for small-, medium-, or large-sized U.S. companies in the region.
  • To highlight the commercial opportunities that exist between Mexico and New Mexico.
  • To teach companies how to tap into Mexico's marketplace.
Who Should Attend:
  • Companies interested in supplying the Mexican Maquiladora industry.
  • Companies interested in exporting to or importing from Mexico.
  • Business representatives and public officials interested in learning the "lay of the land" in terms of doing business in Mexico.
May 25th and 26th, 2006 at the Westin Soberano Hotel in Chihuahua City, Chihuahua
Cost per person is $189, cost for spouse $79

Conference Agenda:
(subject to change)
Thursday, May 25th
  • 12:00pm
    Depart to Chihuahua City on chartered bus from the New Mexico Border Authority parking area (box-lunch served during travel) Please make sure you have your travel visas approved and paid for before boarding this bus (visa fees are about $20).
  • 6:00
    Arrive in Chihuahua City and check-into at Westin Soberano Hotel
  • 6:30 - 6:50
    Welcoming remarks by the State of Chihuahua Secretariat of Industrial Development, Alejandro Cano
  • 6:50 - 7:00
    Remarks by Chihuahua City Mayor, Juan Blanco
  • 7:00 - 7:20
    "Santa Teresa Industrial Development Overview" - Claude Billings, Verde Realty
  • 7:20 - 7:30
    Comments by Jay Kleberg, Bi-National Warehousing Services
  • 7:30 - 8:00
    "Overview of the Maquiladora Industry" - John Christman, CIEMEX-WEFA
  • 8:00
    Board bus to depart to Chihuahua's State Capitol building for a cocktail reception with:
    Alejandro Cano, State of Chihuahua Secretariat of Industrial Development
    Eric Griego, New Mexico Economic Development Department
  • 10:45
    Return to Westin Soberano Hotel.
Friday, May 26th
  • 8:30 - 10:00am
    COPARMEX breakfast with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Chihuahua Governor Jose Reyes Baeza
  • 10:00 - 10:30
    Break (NAFTA Institute and B2B participants go to their respective rooms)
  • 10:30 - 11:00
    "Overview of New Mexico-Chihuahua Border Crossing Infrastructure" - Jaime Campos, Executive Director, NM Border Authority
  • 11:00 - 11:30
    "US-Mexico Contractual Considerations" - Jorge Ruiz, Baker and McKenzie
  • 11:30 - 12:00pm
    "Clearing Shipments through US and Mexican Customs" - Gilberto Arias, Arias Logistics
  • 12:00 - 12:30
    "Cultural aspects of doing business between Mexico and the US" - Armando Martinez and Peter Ibarbo, International Business Accelerator
  • 12:30 - 1:00
    "Overview of the Bi-National Sustainability Laboratory (BNSL)" - Paul Maxwell, Executive Director, BNSL
  • 1:00 - 2:00
    Lunch and Keynote Address:
    Comments By: Fernando Castro, CEDEP (Maquiladora Supplier Development Center of Chihuahua)
    • 1:10 - 1:40
      Keynote Address:
      The Advantages of Operating a Foreign Company in Chihuahua
    • 1:40 - 2:00
      Closure
  • 2:00 - 2:30
    Check-out from Westin Soberano Hotel and depart to Santa Teresa
  • 7:30 - 8:30
    Arrive in Jeronimo/Santa Teresa and cancel travel visas
  • 8:30 - 9:00
    Arrive in Santa Teresa NM Border Authority Parking lot

*Note: for those participating only in the B2B sessions, these will commence immediately after the breakfast at the appropriate room in the Hotel Soberano.

*Simultaneous English/Spanish translation will be provided during each presentation.
**Dress is business formal.
Company display tables available for $500

Logistics:

Our coalition will facilitate all travel to and from Chihuahua City, Mexican travel permits, lodging and meals. Participants will travel form the El Paso/Juarez region to Chihuahua City on a chartered bus.

Participants will attend a special welcoming breakfast hosted by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Chihuahua Governor Jose Reyes Baeza.

For registration costs and information, please contact the International Business Accelerator (Ph: 505-589-2200, email: info@nmiba.com)