Mexico City Conference on February 23rd-24th, 2009
Border Trade Alliance would like to invite public and private sector representatives to participate in its Mexico City Conference on February 23rd-24th, 2009, to review the urgent challenges to border safety and security amid escalating violence in an uncertain economic climate. In attendance will be federal authorities that will address the strategies in place to address border issues and how these policies affect cross-border trade in local communities and industries.
This BTA conference will cover a variety of Mexico-US border and trade issues. Speakers will cover the challenges of public safety on the border and make recommendations to the federal governments on balancing trade with public safety. The past year’s violent drug conflicts have made this issue especially important with Mexico being one of two countries worldwide that the U.S. Joint Forces Command states “bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse” as authorities are under “sustained assault and press by criminal gangs and drug cartels.”
Recently, BTA President Maria Luisa O’Connell was quoted in a Forbes Magazine cover story that “U.S. Companies are worried about the safety of their workers” with drugs becoming such a problem. Already by mid-November of 2008, there had been more than 4,300 drug-related deaths in Mexico. The conference will cover many of these recent events and how government plans like the Mérida Initiative, a US commitment of $1.4 billion in military hardware to assist Mexico, will affect the trade relationship between these countries.
Participants will have opportunities to network with other border communities and give BTA leaders direct input on what needs to be done to improve the efficiency of cross border trade. BTA will be taking an active role in promoting effective ways for the US government to invest in cross border trade and security with economic recovery plans. The conference will cover the recent developments on the border and what tools are available for public and private entities.
The conference will be hosted by Hotel Nikko; registration will be held on Monday evening, February 23rd and on the morning of the 24th. That morning the first speakers will include Ms. Leslie A. Bassett, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, American Embassy in Mexico. The rest of the day will be divided into panels on security including: Roads & Rails, Trade & Retail, Border Gateways, and Law Enforcement. Honorable Fernando Francisco Gomez Mont Urrueta, Secretary of the Interior, Mexico, will address the Keynote Lunch and we will conclude with discussing moving forward in foreign relations.
Both members and nonmembers are welcome to attend- we hope you’ll join us. Register today, or get more information on the conference agenda and registration…
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