HIDALGO, Mexico–The United States Mexico Canada Agreement could mean better relations between Mexico and the United States, but Indiana isn’t waiting. There is plenty of agriculture here in Indiana and in Mexico. Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch believes that is one are we have in common where we can strike some agreements right now.
That’s why she and a delegation of Hoosier leaders are in Mexico right now in the state of Hidalgo. She says they’ve already signed those agreements even though the USMCA may be pushed through Congress and signed soon.
The agriculture delegation spent Monday and Tuesday in Mexico City, said a news release from Crouch.
“The Mexican government has shown their support for USMCA and it is now up to Congress to seal the deal,” said Crouch. “But in Indiana, we’re not waiting around. We want Mexico to know that Indiana is open for business and that we’re committed to developing and enhancing our relationship with them.”
Crouch and members of the delegation met with representatives within the Foreign Affairs, Economy, and Tourism ministries. They discussed opportunities to enhance cooperation in the areas of agriculture, economic development and tourism.
The Indiana-Mexico trade relationship is valued at just under $10 billion.
“Mexico is relationship-driven,” said Bruce Kettler, Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director. “As connected as we are today, there’s still no substitute for face-to-face conversation, so these meetings were invaluable to growing our, already strong, agricultural and economic ties.”
One of the highlights of the group’s trip was the signing of a letter of intent between Lt. Governor Crouch and Hidalgo’s Secretary of Interior Simón Vargas Aguilar.
The agreement, on behalf of the two states, calls for enhanced cooperation in areas like agriculture, education, and science and technology. Included in the letter were several action items, for example, organizing industry events, providing opportunities to collaborate with experts and sharing best practices.
“Signing this letter with Hidalgo is a win for both states, but now the real work begins,” said Crouch. “With this agreement as our roadmap, we look forward to upholding our end of the bargain and capitalizing on this opportunity.”
The Indiana tourism delegation also built key relationships, and will continue working towards an end goal of creating a tourism campaign in Mexico. The tourism group conducted key meetings with travel wholesalers, specialized travel media and tourism government officials.
“After meeting with several tourism partners in Mexico, I am extremely excited by their interest in our tourism destinations. We’re learning there is a market for our experiences in the Hoosier state,” said Misty Weisensteiner, Director of the Indiana Office of Tourism Development. “Seventeen million Mexican tourists visit the United States per year. It is our mission to capture some of those visitors and bring them to Indiana.”
PHOTO: Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch
