Opportunity for growth: commitment to cooperation is catchphrase at AMCHAM annual meeting.

AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF MEXICO celebrated its 88th anniversary by reaffirming its status as a pre-eminent business organization whose goal is to help create a competitive business environment for companies operating in Mexico.

Nearly 400 people attended the gala dinner affair in a Mexico City hotel where U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio O. Garza, Jr. delivered a resolute keynote address, emphasizing the Bush administration's "reinvigorated commitment" to the bilateral relationship.

"As we consolidate our modern partnership with Mexico, we are seeking new initiatives to promote the security and prosperity of all of North America," the ambassador said. "Security, prosperity, and competitiveness are key components of our efforts to build on the remarkable success of Nafta by expanding our relationship with each of our North American partners."

As U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Garza is also the honorary president of AMCHAM/MEXICO.

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Larry D. Rubin, newly appointed as executive vice president of AMCHAM/MEXICO, began the evening with welcoming remarks, articulating his determination to enhance the Chamber's leadership role within the bilateral context.

"We have already begun to look closely at what we do and how we do it," he said. "We will build upon what we do well and look at new areas of opportunity where we can best respond to (members') needs."

Rubin promised to establish a more functional structure to better serve AMCHAM/MEXICO membership and broaden the services and programs available nationwide.

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Following dinner, AMCHAM President Miles G. Bryant III offered special recognition to outgoing Chamber officers and the 2004 Board of Directors, before officially installing the new members of the Board. Bryant himself accepted the nomination to continue serving as president for a second, one-year term.

Bryant reiterated the goals elaborated by Rubin during brief remarks. He also expressed pride over the achievements of the Quadripartite Committee, a council within the Partnership for Prosperity that brings together U.S. and Mexican governments and private sectors.

"This committee has helped to identify areas of opportunity to improve the investment climate at both the macro- and micro-economic levels," he said. "We envision it as an entity through which Mexico can attract new investment and improve the situation of companies already here."

Bryant--and later Garza--stressed the importance of education, calling it "the best investment for a brighter future."

Garza also called for a greater focus on education saying, "The collective North American future lies in developing the creative brain-power of the inventor, the entrepreneur, and the skilled worker who will then bring innovation and technical competency to the modern marketplace."

The ambassador concluded the evening by summing up the essence of the Chamber's conviction as it begins its 89th year.

"Mexico is well-positioned to become competitive with the world's strongest economies as the century marches forward, and its northern neighbor is committed to seeing Mexico succeed," he said.

Tom Buckley is the editor of BUSINESS MEXICO.