International Business Luncheon
May 26th Noon - 1:00
Lunch provided
Free to attend, please register
Jose Jimenez, from the Iowa Department of Economic Development’s representative office in Mexico City, will present a market update on Mexico and Central America.
Mexico is the second largest single country market for Iowa exports, with nearly $1.8 billion in manufactured and value added goods exports alone in 2010. With the exception of 2009, Iowa exports have increased at least 20% in each of the last six years! Mexico is a natural market because of the tremendous receptivity it extends to U.S. suppliers. However it can be difficult to capitalize upon its full potential due to issues such as
its size and diversity, legal and banking systems, regulations and standards, and language and culture.
Implementation of the Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) has resulted in new opportunities for Iowa exporters. CAFTA-DR createst the third largest U.S. export market in Latin America, behind only Mexico and Brazil, and the 14th largest U.S. export market in the world.
Topics will include an economic and political overview of Mexico and Central America, leading industries, and tips and differences for doing business in the markets.
The Iowa Mexico Office provides a variety of services to Iowa companies including market research, identification of contacts, trade show support, and of course, the coordination and support of IDED trade events in Mexico and other parts of Latin America.
Jose Jimenez, Partner, Business Development Partners, S.A. de C.V. (BDP), has more than 30 years experience in international research and trade promotion. Born in Mexico, Jose received his B.A. in Economics from Long Island University and did post-graduate work in Korea. After returning to Mexico, he worked four years for the Australian trade promotion agency, eight years for the Quebec trade promotion office and four years for the Mexico trade
offices of Illinois and Massachusetts. Prior to joining Trade Management Services (TMS), BDP’s predecessor, Jose also was a partner in a telecommunication company that received one of the first internet ISP licenses in Mexico. His bilingual skills and vast network of contacts in Mexico have been a cornerstone in TMS/BDP’s NAFTA strategy.
