KC WORKS TO STRENGTHEN TIES, INCREASE TRADE WITH MEXICO

Governor Blunt, KC representatives meet with Mexican President and key ministries

KANSAS CITY – Dec. 7, 2005 – Missouri Governor Matt Blunt and key economic leadership from Missouri, Kansas City SmartPort and Kansas City Southern traveled to Mexico this week to meet with Mexican President, Vicente Fox, as well as other key leadership in the country, to express their commitment to the Mexican Customs facility to be located in Kansas City. The facility would be the first of its kind on U.S. soil.

“My top priority is to create new jobs and investment in Missouri,” said Blunt. “Tapping into the global economy and solidifying our already strong trade relationship with Mexico are keys in achieving greater economic success for our state.”

The Mexican Customs facility, to be managed by KC SmartPort and located in the Central Business District in downtown Kansas City, would allow U.S companies shipping freight southbound to Mexico to clear goods in Kansas City, jump on to the NAFTA corridor and stroll through Mexico avoiding the delays and congestion at the border.

“This is significant for Kansas City in establishing itself as a major transportation and logistics hub,” said Ken Hoffman, chairman of KC SmartPort. “It will allow shippers to bypass the bottleneck at the border and increase their efficiency, which will ultimately increase their bottom line.”

Representatives met with Mexico’s Finance Minister Gil Diaz, who is in charge of Mexican Customs, yesterday to again express their commitment to working with Mexico. Kansas City and Missouri leadership are hopeful they will have the facility up and running by May 2006.

U.S Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner was recently quoted in an Associated Press article saying the proposal was “bold and imaginative” and could transform Kansas City into a “major new trade link” that would fit well with new border security initiatives to pre-approve cargo.

As part of the four-day trade mission, officials are also meeting with the ministry of foreign affairs and economy, as well as government and business leaders from the Port of Lazaro Cardenas.  Today, they will be discussing next steps in promoting the new Lazaro Cardenas to Kansas City Corridor that will provide a viable rail alternative via Kansas City Southern to companies wanting to avoid the logjam at the West Coast ports.

“The LC to KC corridor is now open for business,” said Hoffman. “Mexico and Kansas City are ready to start promoting this new corridor to businesses across North America and in Asia.”

• “Between the Mexican Customs facility and the new trade route stretching from the Port of Lazaro Cardenas to Kansas City, KC is becoming a major trade hub in the global economy,” said Bob Marcusse, president of the Kansas City Area Development Council. “These two assets will bring new jobs and investment to the Kansas City area as more and more companies look to increase efficiencies and compete in the global economy.”

Governor Blunt, on his first international trade mission, will also be meeting with the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio Garza and will attend an event in his honor by the American Chamber of Commerce. Officials will return home on Thursday, Dec. 8.

# # #