Friday, Dec. 2, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Seeks To Further Expand Missouri Markets During Visit To Mexico Next Week
JEFFERSON CITY–Continuing in his role as Missouri’s economic ambassador, Gov. Matt Blunt will lead a delegation to Mexico next week to meet with government and business leaders to discuss ways for the Show Me State to expand its relationship with its second largest trading partner.
In his first international trade mission, Blunt will be joined by government and business leaders from Missouri in an effort to increase sales of state products to Mexico as part of the governor’s commitment to expanding the state’s presence in the global economy and creating jobs at home.
"My top priority is to create new jobs and investment in Missouri and tapping into the global economy and solidifying our already strong trade relationship with Mexico are keys in achieving greater economic success for our state," Blunt said. "This trip also will be an opportunity to discuss a Mexican customs facility in Kansas City that will speed up trade and reduce the barriers for Missouri goods being transported to Mexico."
The Mexican Customs Facility known as SmartPort would allow goods to be cleared through Kansas City instead of ports in California while avoiding bottlenecks at the Mexican border. In fact, goods from Asia will travel through the Port of Lazaro Cardenas in Mexico, cross the U.S. border and arrive in Kansas City sealed and ready for inspection and distribution. Alternately, goods and trade coming from Canada can clear customs in Kansas City and travel directly through Mexico to other distribution points.
"This kind of facility will help grow the area’s transportation industry by attracting more businesses with significant transportation elements and make Missouri a hub for international trade," Blunt said.
Blunt will meet with Mexican President Vicente Fox and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio Garza and will attend an event in his honor by the American Chamber of Commerce. The governor will also meet with government and business leaders from Port of Lazaro Cardenas and Monterrey.
Missouri’s most recent export figures compiled in 2004 show that Mexico trailed only Canada in export sales from Missouri at $946 million. Between 1999 and 2004, state exports to Mexico increased by $260 million or 38 percent. The top five Missouri exports to Mexico in 2004 were transportation equipment; agricultural products; chemicals; electrical equipment, appliances and components; and computer and electronic products.
Through the third quarter of this year, Missouri exports are more than $800 million ahead of sales tallied in the same time period in 2004 when the state set a record of $9 billion in global sales. Through the end of September, Missouri exports totaled $7.5 billion compared to $6.7 billion after the third quarter of 2004, a nearly 12 percent increase. Just last month, Blunt met with Japanese leaders in New York City to promote the many advantages of doing business in Missouri. Japan is Missouri’s third largest export market.
Officials from the Missouri Department of Economic Development and private business leaders will accompany Blunt to Mexico. Blunt, like previous governors before him, will have his expenses paid for by the Hawthorn Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan statewide organization formed to assist both public and private efforts in promoting Missouri’s economic development initiatives.
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