JALISCO GOVERNOR SPELLS OUT ECONOMIC PRIORITIES

UNCLAS GUADALAJARA 000141 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR WHA/MEX E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD PGOV MX SUBJECT: JALISCO GOVERNOR SPELLS OUT ECONOMIC PRIORITIES REF: GUADALAJARA 119 ¶1. Summary: Newly-inaugurated Jalisco Governor Emilio Gonzalez Marquez outlined the key areas of his economic agenda during a March 15 address to Guadalajara's Chamber of Commerce. His focal points included improving U.S. market access, reducing regulatory red tape for businesses, boosting the capabilities of micro/medium enterprises, and uplifting the informal economy into the formal sector. The creation of more and better-paying jobs is his number one objective. End Summary. ¶2. Jalisco's new Governor, Emilio Gonzalez Marquez, highlighted his economic agenda during a March 15 address to Guadalajara's Chamber of Commerce (CANACO). He detailed four focus areas during his speech to about 300 attendees: improving international market access, reducing regulatory red tape, enhancing micro/medium enterprises, and transforming the informal economy. The Chamber of Commerce boasts a membership of over 25,000, including Guadalajara's most influential business leaders from the region's high-tech and agricultural sectors. ¶3. Gonzalez plans to promote Jalisco's products and services more aggressively in the international arena, specifically in the United States. He envisions utilizing the current Jalisco migrant-liaison groups (Jalisco Clubs) as well as re-opened state trade promotion offices ("Casas Jalisco") in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington state to boost local business and their contacts abroad. Gonzalez is also forming a committee to investigate and reduce the regulatory red tape that burdens all types of commercial activity. ¶4. Another focus of Gonzalez includes reaching out to micro- and medium-sized businesses as well as the informal economy in order to enhance their market knowledge. He realizes that businesses know their craft well, but need assistance in reaching their target markets through mature distribution channels. Gonzalez encouraged business leaders to embrace informal business owners and work with them to assimilate their businesses into formal commercial centers. Most informal businesses need the financial and inventory support of the formal sector to progress and success in this area could serve as an national example for others to follow. The end result would be the creation of more and better jobs - by far the most important public concern in recent opinion polls. ¶5. Comment: This speech capped a week-long economic/commercial "blitz" in which Governor Gonzalez addressed all of the principal business organizations in Jalisco, including the Association of Business Owners (COPARMEX),the Council of Industrialists (CCIJ),the Confederation of Exporters (COMCE) as well as CANACO. While taking on board their suggestions for streamlining the state's bureaucracy and improving its competitive position, Gonzalez also challenged the private sector to do its part, particularly in regard to job creation. He pointedly noted that Jalisco shouldn't have "poor businesses and rich businessmen." His remarks drew extensive and favorable media coverage, and demonstrated to the state's commercial elite that while he shared many of their key objectives, the Governor would not be simply a tool of the business community. RAMOTOWSKI