Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray Caso and the Libyan ambassador in Mexico and Dean of the Council of Arab Ambassadors, Muftah R. M. Altayar headed today’s inauguration of the third annual Arab Week in Mexico. The event was attended by the ambassadors of the Arab countries in Mexico, legislators and the heads of government, academic and cultural institutions.

In his welcome speech, Secretary Videgaray underscored Mexico's interest in continuing to strengthen its ties with the Arab countries. He said that President Peña Nieto’s historic trip to four of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf in January 2016 had led to an increase in the number of visits between senior Mexican and Arab officials. The Foreign Secretary also mentioned the enormous potential that still exists for expanding cooperation and increasing trade and investment.

The Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, thanked Mexico for establishing the Mexican International Cooperation Fund with the League of Arab States in 2006, which has financed agricultural projects and projects to reduce desertification in Egypt, Jordan and Morocco.

In 2016, total trade with the League of Arab States totaled USD 1.738 billion, while direct investment from those countries in Mexico amounted to USD 26.4 million from 1999 to 2016. 

Arab Week is a joint project between the Foreign Ministry, the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Mexico, the Senate, ProMéxico, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, El Colegio de México and other Mexican institutions, whose goal is to raise awareness in Mexico of the rich culture of the Arab-speaking countries and encourages closer social, academic and economic relations with the Arab world. 

This year, there will be events with the Senate, academic conferences, exhibits and various cultural activities related to the Arab culture. In addition, there will be an economic and trade-related event, a weeklong Arab film festival and the Council of Arab Ambassadors will visit a Mexican state.  

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