Mexico Opens 1st Trade Office in Africa

laht.com


RABAT – Mexico opened a trade office on Thursday in Casablanca that is its first in Africa, saying it will serve as a bridge for trade and investment opportunities on that continent.

The director-general of trade and investment promotion agency ProMexico, Francisco Gonzalez; and Mexico’s deputy foreign secretary, Carlos de Icaza, were on hand for the ceremony, Mexican diplomatic officials told Efe.

Morocco was represented by its deputy foreign secretary, Mbarka Bouaida; and the secretary-general of the Foreign Trade Ministry, Mohammed Benayad.

Mexico will share the new office, located in Kenzi Tower, with Peru, Chile and Colombia.

Morocco was chosen because of its political stability, its sustained development and its strategic location as a bridge to Europe, Mexico’s ambassador to that North African country, Andres Ordoñez, said.

Mexico also is looking to expand its diplomatic ties with Africa and the Arab world with its plans to open embassies in Angola, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Jordan and Kuwait in the near future.

In addition to promoting expanded trade, the Casablanca office also could help Mexican companies – particularly in construction and agroindustry – establish operations in Morocco, a low-cost gateway to Europe, Ordoñez said.

In that regard, a Mexican trade delegation representing those two sectors is currently visiting Morocco and will meet with business leaders and officials in the foreign trade and investment area.

The delegation will include representatives of four leading Mexican companies: Cemex and Tamsa (construction) and Bimbo and Gruma (food-processing), who will get a first-hand look at the opportunities Morocco offers.

Mexican Tequila Exports reached 568.8 million dollars in the first half of 2014

theyucatantimes.com

The population of Margaritaville, Russia, is growing at breakneck speed if tequila export figures are any indication. Exports were up a whopping 70% in the first half of the year to Mexico’s second biggest customer of its signature alcoholic drink.

The value of exports to the United States, the principal importer, was also up, with an increase of 27% over last year.

 Este producto elaborado en México, es comercializado a 90 destinos internacionales, entre los que destacan: , entre otros.

USA is the first importer of Tequila in the World

This traditional Mexican alcoholic beverage is currently exported to 90 different countries, but the 12 top consumers are:

1. United States
2. Russia
3. Lithuania
4. Spain
5. United Kingdom
6. Panama
7. Japan
8. Germany
9. France
10. Brazil
11. China
12. Australia

Overall, exports increased in value by 16% during that period. Total exports were just over 86 million liters, a 12% increase. In 2013 the tequila export market was worth just under US $1 billion, a figure that is certain to be eclipsed this year.

China’s consumption was also up. The tequila industry association said exports increased 158%, to 39,214 liters. Tequila trade with China was freed last year, and producers are hopeful that it will become Mexico’s second biggest customer within four years.

But the going hasn’t been easy. Association president Eduardo Orendain Giovaninni said promoting the drink in China requires “a titanic effort.” Ninety per cent of Chinese consume baijiu, he said, a strong spirit distilled mainly from sorghum.

Favorite among imported spirits is whisky, followed by cognac. Tequila, he said, is next in line.

Five varieties of 100% agave tequila are being marketed in China. Exports totaled mover 1,000 liters of añejo, 24,462 liters of blanco, 280 liters of extra añejo, 10,261 of joven, and 3,207 liters of reposado.

Source: http://mexiconewsdaily.com/