Mexico beckons Humber companies with wave of new business

There has never been a better time to do business in Mexico.

The prospects for UK firms to build long-term trade relations with one of Latin America’s largest economies will be revealed at a World Trade Centre Hull & Humber Mexico Matters seminar on January 12.

International trade experts will tell how Mexico has developed into the world’s third biggest emerging market and that its national infrastructure plan, worth US$250 billion, is providing new opportunities for UK businesses, including those in the Humber region.

They will outline the opportunity for British companies to sell their internationally recognised experience in public private partnership schemes and how it can be applied to a range of sectors including ports and railways, oil and gas, advanced engineering and environmental schemes.

John Franck, head of trade and investment at the British Embassy in Mexico City, will start Mexico Matters with an update on the country’s development sectors and how British experience will be in demand.

“The UK has the leading experts in public private partnership schemes, which are being seriously considered for several projects and are also strong in areas such as consulting, project management and cost analysis.

“Mexico has evident knowledge gaps in these fields and a number of UK companies have already set up offices there.

“Although competition for business will be very strong, especially from countries like Spain, UK companies hold an advantageous position with Mexico,” said Mr Franck.

The five-year infrastructure plan is considered vital for the growth of the country, which international bankers Goldman Sachs forecasts will be among the world’s top five economies by 2040 and has been developed in the context of the National Development Plan 2030.

Tony Howard, chair of World Trade Centre Hull & Humber, said that seminar speakers would highlight specific opportunities for Humber companies. “Mexico is a big country with big ambitions and the seminar will demolish some of the outdated perceptions that are held in the UK.

“As Mexico Matters will demonstrate, there are great opportunities for British companies to get involved.”

In addition to Mr Franck, Mexico Matters speakers will be: Jim Crossman, head of the Public Private Partnership Unit at Currie & Brown, London; Tim Gray, international business development director for the Railway Industry Association and Alejandro Almazan, foreign direct investment officer for Promexico Trade and Investment.

And through a videoconference link, the UK Trade & Investment team in Mexico City will explain how their tailored support services can facilitate entry into the market.

In addition, World Trade Centre partners will be available to give further practical support.

Mexico Matters takes place at World Trade Centre Hull & Humber at One Humber Quays, Hull, on January 12 from 2pm to 5pm.

To book a place, contact Rachael Damen at World Trade Centre Hull & Humber on 01482 485200, rachael.damen@wtchumber.com 

You can visit www.wtchumber.com  for further information on the event.

About World Trade Centre Hull & Humber

• World Trade Centre Hull & Humber is funded through Yorkshire Forward and Hull City Council, with support from UK Trade and Investment and the University of Hull. The intention is that it will work towards a commercially sustainable position, through selling services.

 Its partners include:

• East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce
• Hull Forward
• Hull City Council
• Humber Economic Partnership
• North East Lincolnshire Council
• North Lincolnshire Council
• UK Trade and Investment
• University of Hull
• Yorkshire Forward
• Language is Everything 
• Andrew Jackson 
• Baker Tilly 
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• KPMG

 Its services include:

Acting as the first point of contact for investment and trade enquiries, and signposting any enquiries from the World Trade Centers Association network

•  Providing the knowledge, assistance and contacts to facilitate investment into Hull & Humber. • Providing leadership for the promotion of trade and investment
• Organising trade missions to explore new markets and receive delegations
• Providing current information on products and services in the city region; performing customised trade research; and offering contacts, leads and referrals
• Offering practical international trade courses
• Taking a leading role in hosting trade-oriented events, and having a year-round display space for local products and services
• Providing a one-stop-shop for information and trade links
•  Providing ‘front of house’ facilities for companies to do business in high quality surroundings.