MEXICO PROMOTES THE CANDIDACY OF HERMINIO BLANCO TO THE WTO IN THE NETHERLANDS, OMAN AND KUWAIT

Dr. Herminio Blanco visited the Netherlands, whereas Ambassador Lourdes Aranda visited Oman and Kuwait as part of a tour to promote Mexico´s candidacy for the post of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the 2013-2017 term. Both Dr. Blanco and Amb. Aranda reiterated Mexico’s vision of trade as an engine of growth and development.

On Tuesday in The Hague, Netherlands, he met with the Deputy Minister of International Economic Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Simon Smits. Dr. Blanco discussed the challenges currently facing the WTO and the importance of making progress with the issues on the organization’s agenda. Dr. Blanco and Mr. Smits agreed on the importance of international trade to the international development agenda.

Ambassador Lourdes Aranda, Special Envoy of the Mexican government, visited Muscat, the capital of Oman, to present Dr. Blanco’s candidacy and ask for their support. She was accompanied by Arturo Trejo, Mexico's concurrent ambassador to Oman. They met with Deputy Foreign Minister, Mohamed bin Yousef Alzarafi, and the Secretary of Commerce and Industry, Ahmed Suleiman Al-Maimanel, who welcomed their visit and expressed their interest in the information provided about Mexico’s candidate.
Ambassador Aranda explained why Mexico believes the WTO should be led by a candidate from a developing country and she explained Dr. Blanco’s vision of the WTO as vitally important for ensuring global growth.

The Omanis were very interested in Dr. Blanco’s proposals, acknowledged the strength of his candidacy and applauded Mexico's leadership on issues of free trade and in the fight against protectionism. They also agreed that it is essential to global economic development to strengthen the WTO’s role and to make progress with the Doha Round. Undersecretary Alzarafi hosted a luncheon for Ambassador Aranda that was attended by other senior government officials.

One day earlier, on February 19 in Kuwait, Ambassador Aranda and Ambassador Luis Alberto Barrero Stahl met with Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah; the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah; the Minister of Trade and Industry, Anas K. Al-Saleh; and the Deputy Foreign Minister, Khalid Sulaiman Al-Jarallah.

The Director of the Americas Department of the Foreign Ministry, Sheikh Ali Al-Sabah, hosted a luncheon in honor of Ambassador Lourdes Aranda.

At the aforementioned meetings, Ambassador Aranda spoke about the close bilateral relationship and explained how important Dr. Blanco’s candidacy is for Mexico. She emphasized Mexico's role as one of the most dynamic emerging economies that is open to international trade and its prominent role not only in the WTO but in various other organizations such as the G20.

Ambassador Aranda listened as her hosts said they would consider Dr. Blanco’s candidacy because of his qualifications, experience, professional profile and outstanding CV, as well as the good bilateral relationship between Mexico and Kuwait.

The Kuwaiti Prime Minister thanked Ambassador Aranda for her visit, saying that it is indicative of the good relationship between Mexico and Kuwait, which resulted in the opening of embassies in both countries and the signing of various agreements. The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister expressed his confidence that the process of selecting the new Director-General would go smoothly and that the best candidate would be chosen from the group that includes Dr. Blanco.

The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Anas K. Al-Saleh, and Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid S. Al-Jarallah, viewed Mexico’s candidate very favorably, given his profile, credentials and vast experience.
In various meetings, Dr. Blanco and Ambassador Aranda emphasized the Mexican candidate's experience as a former Secretary of Commerce, a leader in negotiating the Free Trade Agreement with the European Union and as a key member of the negotiating team of the North American Free Trade Agreement. In addition, Dr. Blanco explained his knowledge of trade issues as a result of his long experience as a consultant in the private sector.