Los Angeles Business Council Institute and Mayor Garcetti Host Mexico City's Secretary of Economic Development Feb 17-20

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18, 2104 /PRNewswire/ -- The LABC Institute (LABCI), in partnership with Mayor Eric Garcetti, is hosting Mexico City's Secretary of Economic Development, Salomon Chertorivski Woldenberg, for a three-day business development mission designed to strengthen ties between the two economies, which have become increasingly interdependent in recent years.  The visit is part of the preparations for the Mayor's upcoming trade mission to Mexico, March 2-5.

Secretary Chertorivski, who previously served as Mexico's Minister of Health, is part of a new generation of leaders working to expand Mexico's standing in the global economy.  He is leading the Mexico City Initiative, designed to attract investment, spur international trade initiatives and partnerships, and promote modern urban development in North America's largest city.

During his visit to Los Angeles, Secretary Chertorivski is expected to meet with business, community and government leaders to discuss opportunities in transportation, clean energy, water supply and treatment, urban planning and trade.  Already, Mexico is the second largest trading partner for the City of Los Angeles. Mexico City, LA's Sister City since 1969, is the country's largest economic hub.

"Our cities have the opportunity to strengthen economic ties and forge new public/private partnerships," said LABC Institute Co-Chair Brad Cox.  "We believe there is great opportunity for Los Angeles businesses to enhance and create new business relationships in Mexico City, and we look forward to starting those discussions with Secretary Chertorivski during his visit."

Mayor Garcetti's office has arranged information-sharing visits with the city's Department of Sanitation, a tour of the Hyperion Treatment Plant, Ballona Wetlands, Tillman Water Reclamation and Japanese Gardens, Echo Park Lake Development and private meetings with Los Angeles based companies.

LABC Institute will host a meeting of major LA property owners, developers and energy providers with Secretary Chertorivski on an energy efficiency tour of office properties in Century City and a Mexico City Business & Trade Mission luncheon. US Trade Representative, Former Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor will be welcoming Secretary Chertorivski at the luncheon, where the Secretary has requested to speak about business and trade opportunities in Mexico City. Later, the delegation will head to the CLEAN Tech LA incubator and the LABC Institute and Fred Walti, CEO of the Clean Tech LA Incubator will showcase LA's commitment to clean technology and innovation. This will be followed by dinner in the Los Angeles Arts district with Monica Lozano, publisher & CEO of LA Opinion, the largest Spanish- language daily newspaper distributed in Southern California.  

"Mexico City is working hard to transform its economy, and we think there are natural areas for collaboration and opportunity," said LABC President Mary Leslie, who previously served in the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Clinton administration and as Deputy Mayor for Economic Development under Mayor Richard Riordan.  "We look forward to exploring opportunities with Mexico City and developing a rapport with Secretary Woldenberg, a rising star in Mexico." 

Chertorivski, 39, was his nation's youngest minister of health, with responsibility for implementing Mexico's universal healthcare coverage program.  He has a BA and Master's degree in economics from the Instituto Tecnologico Autonomo de Mexico, and an M.A. in Public Policy from Harvard University.

More details on the visit will be posted at www.LABCInstitute.org.  

SOURCE Los Angeles Business Council Institute