Jerusalem, 6 March 2000
Israel and Mexico Sign Free Trade Agreement
(Communicated by Ministry of Industry and Trade Spokesman)
Foreign Minister David Levy and Mexican Foreign Minister Rosario
Green and Mexican Minister of Commerce and Industrial Development Dr.
Blanco Mendoza Herminio today (Monday) 6.3.2000, in the presence of
Presidents Ezer Weizman and Ernesto Zedillo, signed a free trade
agreement between Israel and Mexico, which will become valid on 1
July, after it is ratified by the Israeli and Mexican governments.
Minister of Industry and Trade Ran Cohen, who is currently in China
to sign an industrial R&D cooperation agreement, said that the
agreement will increase bilateral trade by tens of millions of
Dollars, will enable Israeli exporters to compete with American
products in Mexico and advance joint projects in the fields of
communications, agriculture, infrastructure, planning services and
more.
President Zedillo said that Israel and Mexico are now trading
partners and that the agreement will open many commercial
opportunities and strengthen cooperation and understanding between
the two countries.
President Weizman said that the agreement signifies the excellent
friendship between Israel and Mexico and that it will deepen the
contact between the two countries business communities.
The agreement will foster equal competitive conditions for Israeli
exporters, especially vis-a-vis the United States (which enjoys free
trade with Mexico via NAFTA), as well as with the European Union,
which recently signed a free trade agreement with Mexico.
Tomorrow (Tuesday), 7.3.2000, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will
host a business seminar under the auspices of President Zedillo and
Minister of Regional Cooperation Shimon Peres. Business leaders from
both countries will attend the seminar to discuss ways to deepen
commercial relations and cooperation and to establish joint projects.