NM agency seeks Mexico City trade office

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico’s state economic development agency wants to open a trading office in Mexico City.

The Albuquerque Journal reports (https://goo.gl/R0eshr) that the Economic Development Department has requested $100,000 in the coming budget year to open an international trade office in Mexico City and expand its current operations in Brazil.

Economic Development Department Secretary Jon Barela says an official presence in Mexico City would help bolster the state’s export business.

Currently, the agency uses federal grant dollars to pay for outside contractors in three countries - Brazil, Taiwan and Israel. Those contractors generally use rented office space to work on the state’s behalf.