Mission StatementTextile Trade Mission to Mexico

Mexico City, October 24-25, 1999

Guadalajara, October 27-28, 1999

Mission Description

The Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA) will sponsor a textile trade mission to Mexico on October 24-29, 1999. The mission will include a Commerce staff member from OTEXA, and representatives from U.S. apparel fabric companies interested in selling their products in Mexico or establishing representation agreements.

Companies selling apparel fabrics made from natural fibers and cotton blends of fibers and yarns in the better price and quality ranges are likely to have the best chance of success. The mission is planned to consist primarily of apparel fabrics manufacturers and suppliers. However, should local market conditions or recruitment needs dictate, OTEXA may modify the mission to include other suppliers.

Commercial Setting

According to the Country Commercial Guide, after having struggled to cope with the December 1994 devaluation of the peso and the economic difficulties which followed, Mexico has experienced a solid economic recovery. Mexico has been able, in only two years, to stabilize the economy and begin to restore economic growth. Mexico is a major consumer of apparel fabric. Mexico has a highly developed apparel industry and imported $1.4 billion in U.S. fabric in 1998. An International Market Insight, submitted last October by the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in Guadalajara, reports excellent opportunities for sales of fabrics and accessories for use by women's apparel manufacturers in Mexico. The report cites a local apparel manufacturing association, with 150 member firms in the Guadalajara area, which approached the Consulate with a request for assistance in identifying fabric and notion manufacturers in the United States from which they could import fabric.

Mission Goals

The mission's goal is to increase mission members' U.S. exports of apparel fabric to Mexico and secure representation agreements for mission members with qualified Mexican agents and distributors.

Mission Scenario

The mission appointments will take place in the two major centers of the apparel industry in Mexico: Mexico City and Guadalajara. Mission participants will meet individually with buyers, agents and distributors pre-selected and qualified by the U.S. Commercial Service. Meetings will take place in the U.S. Export Development Office in Mexico City and an appropriate venue in Guadalajara. These meetings will be by appointment, but "walk-in traffic" also may occur. There also will be a mission briefing for participants on local market conditions and selling opportunities.

Timetable

The mission is scheduled to arrive in Mexico City on Sunday, October 24, with setup and a briefing scheduled for Sunday. Monday the 25th and Tuesday the 26th will be reserved for business meetings with a reception held Monday evening. Tuesday evening after the close of business the mission will fly to Guadalajara. Business meetings will follow a breakfast briefing on Wednesday the 27th in Guadalajara, followed by a reception in the evening. Appointments will be held on Thursday with additional business visitors from the Guadalajara area as well appointments expected to travel from Zapotlanejo. Zapotlanejo is about a 40 minute drive from Guadalajara and is the residence of several apparel firms that have approached the Consulate requesting U.S. apparel fabric contacts. The mission will conclude on Thursday evening after the final appointment, with members departing individually Friday the 29th of October.

Recruitment will begin immediately and conclude by September 10, 1999. Applications received after that date will be considered only if space and scheduling constraints permit.

Criteria for Participant Selection

• Relevance of a company's product line to mission goals.
• Timeliness of signed application and participation agreement by company (including $3,000 fee).
• Minimum of six, maximum of twelve participating companies on the mission.
• Potential for business in Mexico.

Mission recruitment will be conducted in an open and public manner, including publication in the Federal Register, posting on the Internet, press releases to the general and trade media, direct mail and fax, notices by industry trade associations and other multiplier groups, and at industry meetings, conferences, trade shows, etc.

A company's products must be either produced or converted in the United States, or if not, at least 51% of the value of the contents of each such product must be produced in the U.S.

Any partisan political activities (including political contributions) of an applicant are entirely irrelevant to the selection process.

Contact

Bill Dawson at 202/482-5155 or Rachael Alarid at 202/482-5154.

Or mail to:

U.S. Department of Commerce

Room H-3100

Washington, D.C. 20230(1)(2)(a)(b)(c)