euWater4i-SD B2B mission to Mexico: report
The euWater4i-SD B2B mission to Mexico took place from September 4 to 6, 2023.
13 European companies were part of the mission: ABO valve s.r.o. (Cz), BIOROCK (Fr), Boreal Light GmbH (De), Cimico (Es), Createch Solutions SL (Es), Fonto de Vivo (Fr), Install Engineering Ltd (Bg), NKE Instrumentation (Fr), PV Power Ltd (Bg), Solery Ltd (Bg), Solve IMI S.L (Es), SWIS GmbH (De), WATURA (Fr).
They all benefited from a financial support of €1,500/SME to cover their travel and accommodation costs.
A total of four high-level meetings took place with:
- The Delegation of the European Union to Mexico,
Participants got to know that the EU is Mexico's third-largest trading partner. The trade officer Annabel Boissonnade presented the main characteristics of the Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and the EU, which is currently in the process of being updated. Several tools and projets designed to support EU SMEs willing to enter the Mexican market were as well presented, such as the Low Carbon Business Action by Jorge Pedroza. This EU-funded project provides a platform for market intelligence, matchmaking and networking, but also virtual events and trade missions. Finally, the services of the Latin America IP SME Helpdesk and the importance of Intellectual Property when going international were outlined by Sergio Rangel.
- The Inter-American Development Bank (BID),
Participants met with Ricardo Martínez-Lagunes of the Water & Sanitation division. The participating companies learned how the state, the National Water Commission and the municipalities are organised to implement water projects in Mexico, and how they can get involved. With around 2.500 municipalities spread over 32 federal entities and about 700 formal water utilities, the needs are important and very specific to each region. Many rural areas also remain unconnected to water services. The BID offered its guidance to the companies present.
- Conagua (Comisión Nacional del Agua) ,
Responsible for managing and protecting the country's water resources, Conagua is in charge of a portfolio of services and projects for the federal state. Participating companies to the meeting could ask all their questions to Jorge Fernando Ojeda Santos and Grisell Medina.
- SEMARNAT (Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales) & Instituto Mexicano de Tecnología del Agua (IMTA).
The delegation was welcomed by Miguel Ángel Zerón Cid and José Agustín Breña Naranjo at the Mexican Institute of Water Technology, a decentralised public body coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). It produces, implements and disseminates knowledge and technology for the sustainable use of water in Mexico.
Participants also had time to visit the trade fair Aquatech Mexico and to get acquainted with the various exhibitors and conferences offered.
The B2B mission was very successful and companies many new business contacts in Mexico. euWater4i-SD warmly thanks all the participants and the persons who welcomed us.