Lord Price embarks on maiden trade visit to Mexico to strengthen trade ties
New trade minister’s first visit is to Mexico for meeting of Senior Business Leaders Group; he will also meet with key senior Mexican government officials and businesses.
Lord Price, the new Minister for Trade and Investment, has embarked on his maiden trade visit to Mexico, where he will attend a meeting of the Senior Business Leaders Group.
Setting off just 2 days into his new role, the visit is a clear demonstration of Lord Price’s approach.
He is set to meet with key government officials, as well as UK and Mexican businesses to discuss how the UK and Mexico can forge closer trading links. And, through the Exporting is GREAT campaign, the support the government is providing to businesses looking to export.
The Trade and Investment Minister, Lord Price, said:
The UK and Mexico have a strong trading relationship – they are our largest food and drink trading partner in Latin America. I am pleased to be here, on my first trip as trade minister, to look at ways of building on the trade ties between our 2 countries.
This visit is a great opportunity to hear first-hand from business about how the government can further support those looking to export – including through our Exporting is GREAT campaign – and look at ways to continue to attract investment from Mexico into the UK.
Formed during the Mexican President’s State visit to the UK last March (2015), the Senior Business Leaders Group brings together senior executives from leading British and Mexican companies to identify opportunities and ways to overcome barriers to trade.
The visit will provide an opportunity for Lord Price to discuss the government’s support for exporters, as it works towards its target of getting 100,000 more companies exporting by 2020.
As the second largest economy in the region, with a market of 112 million people, Mexico offers huge trading opportunities for the UK. Bilateral trade for 2014 stood at over £3 billion and British exports of goods have increased by 55% between 2011 and 2015.
During his visit, Lord Price is expected to meet with a number of key Mexican government ministers including those for transport and communications, economy and finance. He is also expected to meet with a range of UK and Mexican businesses.
Note to Editors
- Among the members of the Senior Business Leaders Group attending the meeting are: * HSBC (UK) * BP * Diageo * Shell * GKN Plc * EY * Petrofac * ArcelorMittal Mexico * HSBC Mexico * AMAFORES * Grupo Bal * Grupo Azucarero Mexicano * Korn Ferry