Almost a year after Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper’s visit to Mexico, our relationship with the Centennial State has improved on many counts. We have worked to build a positive, cooperative and more comprehensive relationship.
Under President Enrique Peña Nieto’s leadership, Mexico has reached out to important players globally. In the case of Colorado, our political dialogue at the state and local levels has facilitated key initiatives that benefit both of our societies.
For instance, laws passed in Colorado in 2013 have improved the lives of hard-working immigrants in the state by allowing undocumented persons to pay in-state tuition rates at local universities and obtain a driver’s license.
These laws recognize the many contributions immigrants make to the economy and society of Colorado, and help reduce the rights gap between citizens and immigrants in the state.
By working together, we also had the opportunity to strengthen our mutual understanding through education. Colorado received more than 9,000 international students in the last school year. The Mexico-U.S. Bilateral Forum on Higher Education, Innovation and Research will allow us to increase these numbers, as well as urging more Colorado students go to Mexico on student exchange programs and promoting joint research projects.
Colorado stands as Mexico’s first trade partner in the Great Plains. Bilateral trade reached $2.8 billion in 2014, an outstanding increase of 24 percent compared to 2013.
Mexico is also a great market for Colorado. Colorado exports to our country grew 57 percent between 2009 and 2013, which makes Mexico the second trade partner to the state, just behind Canada. Mexican imports from Colorado exceed those of Japan and Germany combined. Exported goods from Colorado to Mexico include agricultural products, advanced manufactures, high technology products and energy resources.
The Mexican energy market offers new opportunities for Colorado investors. Fracking technologies developed by Colorado researchers and entrepreneurs represent an area for business and cooperation. And so is the construction of six new electric plants recently announced by Mexico’s Ministry of Energy, as well as the new oil pipeline construction projects that will increase by 54 percent the national pipeline network.
In October, the Summit of North American Governors will be held in Colorado Springs. The summit will serve precisely the purpose of promoting greater integration between us, contributing to making our region the most competitive one in the world.
José Antonio Meade Kuribeña is Mexico’s minister of Foreign Affairs. He is visiting Denver Tuesday.
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