Mexico is one of Arizona's greatest trade partners and Mayor John Giles is honored to be invited to attend the inauguration of President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Dec. 1. Mayor Giles joins a delegation of mayors representing the US Conference of Mayors organization.
"Mesa is the third largest city in a border state with strong economic and cultural connections to Mexico," Mayor John Giles said. "I am proud to be able to attend President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's inauguration on behalf of the City of Mesa."
Mesa and Mexico worked together closely on the development of a Unified Cargo Processing Program at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport that expedites the customs process. The program is the first inland airport with Mexican Custom officials working on property directly with US Customs and Border Protection.
"The Unified Cargo Processing Program transforms Mesa into an international e-commerce hub, benefiting not only our City but also our state and the Arizona-Mexico region as a whole," Giles said.
Air freight trade between Arizona and Mexico has increased 180 percent from 2011 to 2015 and totals $390 million per year. The addition of the Cargo Processing Program allows products to move between Arizona and Mexico more efficiently, creating more capacity for growth in e-commerce.