History

A group of distinguished Mexican and U.S. businessmen established the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce (USMCOC) in 1973 as a 501 (c) (6) non-profit business association chartered in Washington D.C. The coalition of businessmen created a bilateral organization to promote trade, investment and joint ventures on both sides of the border. Now in its third decade of operation, the Chamber has grown into a unique non-profit corporation operating through 12 offices in Mexico and the United States. All chapters and offices, with strong local membership and international contacts, help businesses bridge differences in legal, regulatory and economic systems, as well as language and culture.

The Ambassador of Good Business

The Ambassador of Good Business The United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce (USMCOC) was established in 1973 as a bilateral business association to promote trade, investment and joint ventures on both sides of the border. Now in its third decade of operation, the Chamber has grown into a unique non-profit corporation operating through 14 offices in Mexico and the United States.

The Mid-America Chapter was inaugurated on January 25, 1994 in Chicago by The Honorable James R. Jones, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Included among the Mid-America Chapter’s monthly activities are trade and investment services; meetings with high-level public and private sector officials in the Midwest, Washington D.C. and Mexico; conferences and seminars; trade missions; and the continuation of the membership drive.

Since its founding in 1994 the Mid-America Chapter has quickly become the preferred platform for U.S. and Mexican government officials wishing to exchange views with the Midwest’s experts on U.S.-Mexico commerce and industry. Among the statesmen and international business leaders whom the Chapter has honored are:

Presidents
His Excellency Vicente Fox, President of Mexico (2001 and 2004);
His Excellency Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico;
His Excellency Eduardo Frei, former President of the Republic of Chile;

Ministers
His Excellency Francisco Gil Díaz, Secretary of Finance of Mexico;
His Excellency Fernando Canales, Secretary of Economy of Mexico;
Her Excellency Leticia Navarro, former Secretary of Tourism of Mexico;
His Excellency José Angel Gurría, former Secretary of Finance of Mexico;
His Excellency Herminio Blanco, former Secretary of Commerce of Mexico;
His Excellency Oscar Espinosa Villarreal, former Secretary of Tourism of Mexico;
His Excellency Carlos Ruíz Sacristán, former Secretary of Communications/Transportation;
The Honorable Bill Richardson, former Unites States Secretary of Energy / currently Governor of New Mexico
The Honorable Federico Peña, former United States Secretary of Transportation;

Ambassadors
His Excellency Carlos de Icaza, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States;
His Excellency Juan Jose Bremer, former Ambassador of Mexico to the United States;
The Honorable Jeffrey Davidow, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico;
His Excellency Jesús Reyes-Heroles, former Ambassador of Mexico to the United States;
His Excellency Jesús Silva-Herzog, former Ambassador of Mexico to the United States;
The Honorable James R. Jones, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico;

Governors
The Honorable Guillermo Ortiz, Governor of the Central Bank of Mexico;
Governors of the States of Chihuahua, Durango, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa and Zacatecas;

Trade and Investment Missions
May 1997 Trade and Investment Mission to Mexico City led by The Honorable Richard M. Daley, Mayor of the City of Chicago.
2004 Mid-America Chapter Board Mission to Mexico City
2005 Mid-America Chapter Membership Business Mission to Mexico City

Together, the national and local boards of directors comprise the leading U.S. corporations and firms with significant commercial activity in Mexico. Among the multinational corporations active in the Mid-America Chapter are: American Airlines, The Boeing Company, Corn Products International, Equity International, Fitch, International Truck and Engine Corporation (Navistar), McDonald’s Corporation, and United Airlines.