A New Era

My December 2013 visit to Turkey, as the first Mexican President ever to make a state visit, marks the beginning of a new era in Turkish-Mexican relations, formalized by the Strategic Alliance for the 21st Century. This institutional framework will allow us to build upon our complementary development trajectories and strengthen our bilateral relations.

One of our primary objectives within the Strategic Alliance for the 21st Century is to increase bilateral trade and investment. While it is true that trade between our countries has increased over recent years, the total amount reached merely $785 million in 2012. Nonetheless, we are optimistic because the current context of our economies and our vast similarities allow for increased trade and investment. Firstly, our countries are strategically located within their respective regions, and are willing to serve as bridges between vast markets. Turkey is a vibrant, fast-growing economy, and Mexico now has an opportunity to benefit from this renewed relationship in order to expand and consolidate its economic presence in the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa.

Similarly, Turkey has a new partner in America. Mexico is endowed with a highly skilled and growing work force, and it stands as one of the most open and dynamic economies in the world. We have a strong domestic market and a network of 10 free trade agreements with 45 countries. Furthermore, Mexico’s position in the world’s value chains makes our country an ideal base of operations to access the North American, Latin American, and Caribbean markets.

To take full advantage of these favorable conditions, Turkey and Mexico have signed important agreements to protect investments, avoid double taxation, launch direct air services, and promote tourism. For instance, ProMexico and Invest in Turkey, as well as Bancomext and Turk Eximbank, signed instruments to boost reciprocal trade and investment. As a firm believer in free trade, I reason that these innovative agreements will enhance development, promote sustainable growth, and create well-paying jobs in both countries.

Furthermore, Mexico is undergoing major structural transformations to become a more competitive nation. In order to unlock our country’s full economic potential, my government has signed into law vital reforms to transform the education, telecommunications, finance, and energy sectors. These changes are the result of a major consensus building agreement among the country’s main political parties. Through their implementation, we will promote productivity across sectors and enhance our economic growth. Indeed, the education reform will increase the quality of education by focusing on teachers’ professional development and performance evaluation. The telecommunications reform will expand coverage, lower consumer prices, and improve the quality of digital services. As for finance reform, it will enable financial institutions to grant more loans at more favorable rates; small and medium-sized businesses will have the means to grow and prosper. The fiscal reform will guarantee sound public finances and promote growth by increasing public investment in infrastructure, education, research and development, and welfare services. And finally, the energy reform is crucial in increasing our energy security and economic growth, since it allows for more private investment in the energy sector, while guaranteeing Mexicans’ ownership over their vast natural resources.

By allowing more open markets and leveling the playing field, we seek to increase productivity and ensure that companies operating in Mexico have access to strategic inputs. Mexico is also actively pursuing a complementary foreign policy strategy. In this context, I believe that both Turkey and Mexico must keep playing an active role internationally, as members of the G20 and MIKTA. Comprised of Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, Australia, and Mexico, MIKTA can serve as a common platform to exchange opinions, articulate shared policy strategies, and strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations. Through increased cooperation, our emerging economies can play an increasing role in future global growth, as many analysts and investors already foresee.

For these reasons, my government will continue working closely with its Turkish counterpart to encourage forward-looking and innovative thinking, and identify areas of collaboration. We must translate our mutual interests into concrete business opportunities. After all, we have worked to strengthen our relationship and reaffirm the ties that bind our economies, cultures, and people toward a better future.

© The Business Year – January 2014