Political and business leaders in the state of Chihuahua responded with a gush of enthusiasm to news that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was under serious consideration for the post of commerce secretary in the incoming Obama administration.

Victor Valencia de los Santos, personal representative of Chihuahua Governor Jose Reyes Baez Terrazas, said Richardson’s expected appointment was a “great opportunity” in light of the New Mexico Democrat’s grasp of border issues as well as his personal relationship with Governor Reyes Baeza.

Ciudad Juarez Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz also greeted the news about Richardson with a positive reflection.

“When Richardson was a representative he was one of the principal promoters of the North American Free Trade Agreement in Congress,” Mayor Reyes said. “He is a person who has clear knowledge of all that is involved in the area of commerce between Mexico and the United States, and it would be great news for Mexico if he were named commerce secretary”

Governor Richardson, who counts decades of experience in both Washington and New Mexico, has been busy cultivating economic ties south of the border since his election to the governorship of the Land of Enchantment in 2002.

During the last six years, the Richardson administration has co-sponsored New Mexico-Chihuahua trade missions; promoted the development of a New Mexico-Chihuahua aerospace industry; supported expanded tourism between New Mexico and the Mexican states of Sonora, Jalisco and Chihuahua; and helped land a huge Foxconn electronics factory that is scheduled to open next year on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez.

Most recently, the Richardson administration announced a new Aeromexico route between Chihuahua City and Albuquerque. Set to commence by January 2009, the flight will be the only direct air route between New Mexico and Mexico. Signed November 15 by different Chihuahua and New Mexico state government officials, a binational agreement provides $340,000 in New Mexico state monies for the air service’s start-up costs. Governor Richardson described the deal as a chance to “expand and strengthen the business and cultural ties between the border states of New Mexico and Chihuahua.”

Perhaps the biggest binational project promoted by Governor Richardson is the development of the new twin cities of Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and Jeronimo, Mexico, northwest of Ciudad Juarez. With the planned relocation of train traffic from downtown El Paso-Ciudad Juarez to the Santa Teresa/Jeronimo area, the cross-border development could become an important nexus in the Asia-North American trade in future years.

Like Chihuahua’s two top elected officials, Fernando Uriate Zaueta, spokesman for the CCE business association in Ciudad Juarez, judged a US commerce department with Richardson at the helm as welcome news for Mexican business interests.

“He will surely have a vision of openness, of collaboration, and of cooperation with Mexico, something which is favorable for the country,”
Uriate said.