UK, Mexico Work to Strengthen Bilateral Relations Through Trade

The United Kingdom is hoping to fortify relations with Mexico, U.K. Ambassador Corin Robertson told Notimex Monday.

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“As a diplomat it is a very interesting moment to be here, to be able to establish or further strengthen the bilateral relationship that already exists between Mexico and the United Kingdom. It is a very strong bilateral relationship and it is also a historic bilateral relationship,” Robertson said.

The level of economic success experienced over the last year provides the ideal platform for further negotiations, Robertson said.

“The first challenge for me is the commercial relationship which is already quite strong, after bilateral trade grew 16 percent in relation to 2016 and has grown 20 or 30 percent in recent years, but this exchange is little for countries as bus as the United Kingdom and Mexico,” she said.

The nation’s shared appreciation of culture, education, environment, and human rights makes them the ideal partners in various sectors of business, the official said.

Tourism has seen a surge of business with over 100,500 Mexicans traveling to Britain’s colorful cities. While Mexico’s beach metropolis in Cancun, Mexico City, and Puerto Vallarta draw at least 500 thousand visitors per year.

Additionally, substantial income arrives with exports such as machinery, transport equipment, chemicals, and beverages.

Still, Robertson said, "I think we can do better, and I have it as a challenge and a personal goal within the next four or five years, increase bilateral trade.”

"The British government and the British embassy have to work hard on that, to educate our companies about the commercial opportunities that exist in Mexico, and also work together with the Mexican government on the socio-economic challenges that exist here, especially with issues such as corruption, because there are many companies that are concerned about transparency,” she said.

The U.K. also plans to assist its trade partner in its fight against corruption and has invested US$300 million to the cause.

“We want to cooperate with the Mexican government to fight corruption and collaborate together to face these important challenges, because they are also important for the United Kingdom and for Mexican socio-economic development and for trade relations,” the British official said.