Idaho trade mission to Mexico draws a crowd

For some Idaho businesses, the state´s trade mission to Mexico means a chance to build relationships with potential buyers and sellers.

Gregory Hahn
The Idaho Statesman

For others, it´s a step in a complex negotiation with foreign governments, or a way to further an Idaho company´s reach into international markets.

And for a lucky few, the week-long trip comes down to a real simple fact.

“I´m going down representing the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee,” said P and I Produce owner Dave Paulsen of Parma. “The Mexican people eat tons of onions.”

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and almost 60 business leaders, state officials, university representatives and commodity growers plan to leave today for Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City. They´ll be there for a week.

The state will spend about $17,000 for 11 people. The total cost could reach more than $40,000, but the rest will be paid for by the businesses on the trip.

Members of the group will meet with Mexican President Vicente Fox and his secretaries of agriculture, economy and environment — along with public and private business leaders.

It´s Kempthorne´s sixth trade mission abroad, and his third to Mexico. He´s touted these trips´ success in landing contracts for Idaho businesses, contacts for state leaders and even concrete changes in Idaho, like the Grupo Modelo beer facility in eastern Idaho.

These face-to-face meetings mean a lot, Kempthorne said.

“After you´ve met them — they´ve been to your office and you´ve been to their office — you´re speaking to a friend,” he said.

And the trips are attracting more and more Idaho businesses — 11 companies are going on this trip, the state´s largest delegation ever to Mexico. Kempthorne called them an “army of business men and women.”

“You can´t find work at home, waiting for your phone to ring,” said John Cavanaugh, who is representing Boise-based Power Engineers on the trip.

Power started its international experience doing engineering work at a power plant in Costa Rica. Now it works with a utility company in Kenya, is looking at Vietnam and hopes to expand into food processing in Mexico, Cavanaugh said.

Hewlett-Packard has had a division in Mexico for 17 years, but the company keeps changing, and with it the business opportunities that can exist in other countries, said Mark Falconer, HP´s northwest government affairs manager.

These trips let the company talk to potential partners about these new chances for business relationships, Falconer said.

And along with the business leaders and Kempthorne, Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, Commerce Director LaMoyne Hyde and Agriculture Director Pat Takasugi will make the trip.

Nampa Mayor Tom Dale is going to keep building on his town´s relationship with its sister city — Tizapan el Alto. Dale´s goals are to boost economic development and cultural and educational sharing — all of which help both Idaho and Mexico.

“If we are strengthening their economy, we are strengthening ourselves as well,” he said.

To offer story ideas or comments, contact Gregory Hahn
[email protected] or 377-6425

http://www.idahostatesman.com/Business/story.asp?ID=51695