THE FOREIGN MINISTRY TO SIGN A COOPERATION AGREEMENT WITH CONAGO

On behalf of the Foreign Ministry, the Directorate General for Policy Coordination chaired a meeting with officials from the 32 states that comprise the National Governors Conference (CONAGO) and the National Coordination of the Association of International Affairs Offices of Mexican States (AMAIE, in Spanish).

 The purpose of the meeting was to present the cooperation agreement between the Foreign Ministry and CONAGO, give a progress report on the newly-formed Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), discuss the AMAIE and report on the newly-created regional office of the Global Fund for Cities Development, based in Paris and with offices in Mexico City, represented at the meeting by its Executive Director, Alain Le Saux.

This is the first time an agreement has been proposed that would institutionalize the relationship between the Foreign Ministry and local governments in terms of shaping a common foreign policy agenda.  The agreement, which will be signed when it is approved by the governors, is designed to transcend the changes of administration at all levels of government and to promote Mexico's image abroad by signing agreements and implementing working agendas abroad and other acts of state diplomacy.

At the next meeting of CONAGO, the proposed agreement will be signed by Queretaro Governor José Calzada, as chair of the meeting, and Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa.