Singapore Mexico Chamber of Commerce

One of my happier achievements in recent times was the setting up of this Chamber.

Sometime during Covid in 2021, a good friend introduced me to the Mexican Ambassador to Singapore, Agustin. The ambassador was promoting trade between Singapore and Mexico and wanted to set up a business body to facilitate this. They had tried doing something for some time without success and now they wanted my help.

I came up with the idea of a chamber and managed to set this up for them in 3 months. We had a very successful launch of the Chamber at the Gardens by the Bay with MOS Alvin Tan officiating. I became the Advisor to the Chamber.

The chamber is now about 3 years and is firmly established with 160 members,which is quite incredible for such a young business chamber set up with a specific country focus.

During the last 4 years of the Biden administration, Mexico has attracted large investments, mostly Chinese. They have set up manufacturing facilities there to avoid existing and potential tariffs by the US. Another reason was to take advantage of the USMCA.

Of course the US has noticed this and there is quite a bit of pushback from them to crack down on this. Mexico is careful now and monitoring this to ensure that the rules of origin requirements are strictly adhered to. They are also careful in not attracting new investments from China at the present time.

Anyway there is a lot of interest in Mexico currently and how the tariffs will play out. Also Singapore is finally opening an embassy there this year, confirming the increasing importance of Mexico to Singapore.

So yesterday we had a breakfast meeting with Gerson (the CEO) and Luis (the President) from the Chamber to discuss what we can do at this time. We have decided to organize a business seminar towards the end of May and a trade mission to Mexico in December to coincide with the opening of the embassy there. We are also planning some activities to take advantage of the World Cup there next year!