Mayors From Across State, Mexico to Meet in O.C.

Mayors from California and Mexico will meet in Orange County next week to encourage trade and establish the state as the primary provider of technology to Mexico.

The California-Mexico Summit of Mayors, to be held Feb. 13-16, marks the first time that nearly 200 government and business leaders from both countries will meet to develop strategies for integrating the two economies, said James Clark, executive director of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce.

The idea for the summit, which will be held in Irvine and Santa Ana, evolved after Santa Ana Mayor Miguel A. Pulido Jr. and Irvine Mayor Christina L. Shea traveled to Guadalajara in April and saw an opportunity to forge a stronger business relationship with several Mexican cities. In November, Pulido and Shea held a conference in Irvine about U.S.-Mexico trade.

Mexico is Orange County’s No. 1 trading partner. Last year, Orange County exports to Mexico accounted for more than $2 billion, chamber officials said.

“The purpose is to bring businesspeople together with the mayors of California and Mexico to facilitate trade,” said summit spokeswoman Lynn Howes. “This summit is the next step.”

On Feb. 14, there will be round-table discussions on technology, municipal services, investment opportunities and trade options. Representatives from Irvine, San Jose and San Diego will form a technology alliance with their counterparts in the Mexican cities of Tijuana, Mexicali, Guadalajara and Chihuahua.

“From the California point of view, this solidifies California’s position as the No. 1 provider of technology to Mexico,” Clark said. “The first day of the summit is devoted to technology and the acknowledgment of the California and Mexican Technology Alliance.”

The Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which has hosted three “Business Without Borders” conferences, is sponsoring business development round-table discussions Feb. 15. Topics will include international trade and the legal and property aspects of doing business with a foreign country.

“The fact that so many Mexican mayors are coming has added a whole new dimension to our conference,” said Ruben Alvarez, executive director of the Orange County Hispanic Chamber.

“By having both government and businesspeople in the same room, more partnerships will be established. Toward the end of the second day, our businesspeople will be matched with businesspeople from Mexico so they can get to know each other,” Alvarez said.

Pulido and Shea will co-host the summit. Among those expected to attend are Mexican mayors Francisco Vega de Lamadrid of Tijuana, Ismael Alfredo Hernandez Deras of Durango, Daniel Quintero Pena of Ensenada and Victor Hermosillo Celada of Mexicali. Lon Hatamiya, secretary of the California Trade and Commerce Agency, is scheduled to give the keynote speech.