Virtual Trade with Mexico

Idaho Governor Brad Little says he is starting to see early, positive results from Idaho’s recent virtual trade mission to Mexico. Little notes that Mexico is Idaho’s fourth largest export destination, accounting for the purchase of nearly $225 million in Idaho products last year alone, with much of that coming from agriculture and food processing. He says with the pandemic bringing trade missions and travel to a standstill in 2020, it was important the state find other ways to keep the lines of communication open.

“We don’t’ want to disrupt the relationship we’ve got between existing businesses and Mexico, and we want to do the introductory work for new products, new commodities, new services, and make those connections. The most redeeming thing about it was the speed with which we could do meetings, instead of in a car down in Mexico City or Guadalajara going from place to place.”

 

Dairy, beans, beef, fresh produced, ag-tech were just a few of the Idaho companies that participated in April’s virtual trade mission.

Little says not only did the virtual trade mission help strengthen the relationships Idaho businesses have with customers in Mexico, it also help businesses in the Gem State improve their relationships with each other.

“You know, there’s a lot of chemistry that takes place getting prepared for them, putting things together between Idaho companies.”

 

The Governor adds his hope is the state can coordinate a trade mission, in some form, to Asia.