Idaho Delegation To Talk Trade On Mexico Mission

Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and a delegation of two dozen government and industry officials head for Mexico this weekend on a 13-day trade mission that he is convinced will further strengthen Idaho’s economy.

“We had tremendous success on the Asia trip, and we hope to build on that,” Kempthorne told reporters on Thursday, emphasizing the extremely close ties Idaho and its growing Hispanic population have with Mexico.

Mexico is Idaho’s No. 3 trading partner behind Canada and Japan.

Among the companies taking part in the trip is Western Garnet International, a Coeur d’Alene firm. It produces an industrial grade garnet powder that’s used as an abrasive in electronics manufacturing.

Companies that participated in the state’s last trade mission to Asia signed contracts and firmed up overseas business.

The delegation, which includes State Schools Superintendent Marilyn Howard and representatives of six Idaho companies, opens the trip in Guadalajara, where Idaho has a trade office, and then goes on to Mexico City, where Kempthorne is scheduled to meet with Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo.

Contacts have also been set up in Costa Rica, and the delegation will attend the Idaho week celebration in its sister state in Mexico, Jalisco, before returning to Boise.

Staff writer Betsy Russell contributed to this report.