- In meetings with civil society, community leaders and business associations and others, Mexico reiterates its commitment to empowering and improving the living conditions of Mexicans in the U.S.
The Undersecretary for North America, Carlos Sada Solana, traveled to Atlanta, Georgia from May 25-26 to meet with key local and state actors in order to deepen Mexico's ties with the city's economic, community and political circles.
He first held a discussion with business executives and members of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Georgia, where he talked about regional integration, free trade and strengthening the Mexico-Georgia economic relationship.
Later, in a meeting with Bert Brantley, Chief Operating Officer of the Georgia Economic Development Department, he invited Governor Nathan Deal to lead a trade mission of Georgia business executives to Mexico.
He also met with civil society organizations, community leaders and other groups, reiterating Mexico's commitment to continue working to empower and improve the living conditions of Mexicans in the United States. He explained the steps being taken by the Foreign Ministry to protect Mexicans in the United States, which he further discussed with David Lubell and Michelle Maziar, directors of Welcoming America and Welcoming Atlanta, respectively. Undersecretary Sada highlighted the importance of the work of both groups in improving the integration and promoting greater understanding of immigrant communities.
While in Atlanta, he also met with Mayor John Arthur Ernst Jr. and Police Chief Gary Yandura of Brookhaven to thank them for Brookhaven's support of the Mexican community there. He reiterated that the Mexican consulate in Atlanta was ready to continue working closely with them.
Lastly, he met with Representatives Brenda López and Pedro Marín, and Jerry Gonzalez, Executive Director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO), where the officials agreed on how important it is to work at different levels to empower and protect the rights of the Hispanic community in the United States. Georgia is Mexico's 8th-ranked trading partner in the United States. Bilateral trade in 2016 totaled USD 9.9 billion dollars. Exports from Georgia to Mexico have increased by 757.2% since NAFTA was signed.
