With the representation of President Enrique Peña Nieto, the Secretary of Economy, Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, attended the Annual General Meeting of the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry, a ceremony in which the Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, Enrique Martinez y Martinez, swore to Luis Velasco Fernández as the new Chairman of the Body.

This event was attended by Jorge Aristoteles Sandoval, Governor of Jalisco; entrepreneurs of the tequila industry, including Eduardo Orendáin Giovannini, outgoing President of the Chamber, and Luis Margáin Sainz as well as Juan Alonso Niño, Coordinator of the Council of Industrial Chambers of Jalisco; Manuel Herrera Vega, Unit Candidate for the Presidency of CONCAMIN; Ricardo Aguilar, UnderSecretary for Food and Competitiveness of SAGARPA; and Francisco González Díaz, Director General of PROMÉXICO.

In his speech, the Secretary Guajardo Villarreal said that the tequila industry goes beyond generating more than 70,000 direct jobs and a vertical integration with the sector of the Mexican countryside. "It really goes well beyond because it represents all of us as Mexicans," he expressed.

He also added that after the Mexican automotive industry, which exports more than 82% of what it produces, is the tequila industry's leading exporter in terms of what produces nationally. "70 percent of the product that you produce it goes over one hundred countries in the world," he said.

"For every minute that passes, you are exporting 435 bottles of 750 milliliters; It is a very palpable way to see the great effort you are making in the international markets", he stressed.

After taking the protest to the new Board of the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry, the holder of SAGARPA, Enrique Martínez y Martínez, noted that "with a work in unity and institutional coordination, the greatest progress in the food industry are achieved "; He also noted that this Chamber is an example of working together, projection and expansion.

He said that this is a permanent ally of the work and efforts of producers and agribusiness, to locate the food industry as a pillar in the economic and social development for the country.

“In this new view”, he said, “the tequila industry records very productive years, with a history, a present and a very promising future and with new challenges to expand the exports to countries in Asia and Europe”.

Before the representatives of the 74 member companies affiliated to this Chamber, the Secretary Enrique Martinez and Martinez stressed that SAGARPA reorients programs and resources to strengthen the promotion campaigns at national and international levels, as well as the participation of agribusiness in international fairs for the positioning of the Mexican tequila.

Meanwhile, Jorge Aristoteles Sandoval, Governor of Jalisco, said that the Chamber of Tequila Industry is stronger than ever, thanks to the promotion, financing, technology and innovation, reaching other frontiers with the support of the Government of the Republic.

He said that the tequila industry is growing stronger, because it has managed to meet the challenges and represents a national example of collaboration and sustainability. "The key to success", he stressed, "has been working together, the available of all the stakeholders, both private enterprise and the authorities of the various levels of the government".

Finally, he said that in 2014 were exported to the United States 134 million liters of tequila, representing 55% of the national production and that the doors to the Chinese market have been opened.

Luis Velasco Fernández, incoming President of the National Chamber of the Tequila Industry, said that the central goal of his administration will continue promoting the development of tequila around the world. He said that for doing this, a strong and united industry is required.

He also said that the prestige of the tequila has been built based on its legality, boosting the Norma Oficial Mexicana and the Designation of Origin through the Tequila Regulatory Council. "With this effort, Mexico has a unique product, of great quality and with a very strong legal support, which mainly supports thousands of jobs and generates a significant economic development for Mexico and for the state of Jalisco," he said.

Eduardo Orendáin Giovannini, who recently concluded his leadership of the Chamber of Tequila Industry, acknowledged the support of all members of the same and the governments of the Republic and the state of Jalisco to strengthen the sector in the world. The latter, referring to access of the tequila in the Chinese market.

As part of his entourage, the head of the Secretariat of Economy was accompanied by Jorge Cantú Valderrama, General Coordinator of Federal Delegations; Mario Gutierrez, Delegate in Jalisco; and Miguel Ángel Margáin, Director General of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI).

Subsequently, Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal accompanied the President Enrique Peña Nieto at a meeting with businessmen of Jalisco.