Ahern begins Mexican visit

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is beginning an official visit to Mexico today at the invitation of the country’s President Vincente Fox Quesada.

Mr Ahern was accompanied by a 24-strong business delegation from mainly engineering and construction firms, information technology software companies and educational colleges.

The business representatives were meeting a number of Mexican commercial representatives during the four-day visit.

Mr Ahern was set for talks with President Fox on a range of issues, including bilateral political, economic and cultural relations, and was also due to see a number of other political leaders.

Ahead of his departure, Mr Ahern said the trade mission he was heading was the biggest to go to Mexico in recent years.

He added: “The contacts made and the relationships delivered as a result of this mission will provide a strong foundation on which to build additional opportunities for our two countries in the future.

“Mexico is our largest trading partner in the Latin America and Caribbean region and accounts for than 30% of our trade there.

“We see the Mexican market as being very important, not only in its own right, but as a very important gateway to the markets of South America.”