MEXICO CITY, MEXICO -(June 18, 2002)- Reflecting a commitment to U.S-Mexico bilateral cooperation, today the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) entered into four agreements that commit over US$1.3 million of TDA funding to support regional development and priority infrastructure projects in Mexico.

TDA Director Thelma J. Askey signed three of the agreements at a signing ceremony with U.S. Commerce Secretary Donald Evans and Mexican Secretary of Communications and Transport Pedro Cerisola y Weber. The Governor of Puebla, Mr. Melquíades Morales Flores, representing the Operadora Estatal de Aeropuertos, S.A., signed the grant agreement through which TDA will provide funding for a $550,000 feasibility study on the Puebla International Airport modernization and air cargo terminal project. The study will generate a plan for modernization and expansion of the existing airport infrastructure and the installation of an air cargo facility. Arq. Raúl Rodriguez Cánovas, Encargado del Despacho de la Dirección General of the API de Veracruz, signed the second grant agreement through which TDA will fund a $408,000 feasibility study to plan the expansion of the Port of Veracruz.

Ing. Hilario Gabilondo Picollo, Director General of Intermodal Mexico, S.A. de C.V. signed the third grant agreement through which TDA will provide a $200,000 grant to partially fund a feasibility study to assist Intermodal Mexico in developing of its network of intermodal terminals in Mexico. Two of these three projects, the Hermanos Serdan Airport and the Expansion of the Port of Veracruz, will be developed jointly by the public and private sectors. Intermodal Mexico's project will be a completely private sector initiative. TDA's support of these priority transportation projects in Mexico will help contribute to the fulfillment of the goals of the Partnership for Prosperity initiative launched by President George W. Bush and President Vicente Fox.

In addition, at a separate ceremony at the offices of Nacional Financiera, TDA Director Thelma J. Askey and NAFIN Director General Mario Laborín entered into an agreement through which TDA will provide a $222,000 grant for technical assistance. This grant will support NAFIN's efforts to develop a detailed action plan to strengthen the venture capital industry in Mexico. The grant was funded under the framework of the TDA-NAFIN Master Grant Agreement signed in March 2002.

The signings mark the importance of the strong bilateral trade partnership between the United States and Mexico. "It is a pleasure for me to see this relationship grow and expand now through the Partnership for Prosperity, which President Bush and Fox have established" stated Director Askey.

To date, TDA has invested over $12 million in 38 Mexican infrastructure development projects, benefiting Mexico's growth and economic development. More than half of TDA's work has been in the transportation and environmental sectors, although TDA activity in Mexico spans a cross section of sectors and Mexican states.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency promotes American private sector participation by helping U.S. companies pursue business opportunities in developing and middle income countries. Through the funding of feasibility studies, orientation visits, specialized training grants, business workshops, and various forms of technical assistance, we help American businesses compete for infrastructure projects in emerging markets. In addition, the agency promotes capacity building initiatives and supports U.S. government trade, economic policy and development objectives around the world.

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