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Mexico City, Mexico, July 28, 2005 – “When U.S. and Mexican state treasurers come together to discuss their work, that’s a partnership for prosperity,” said U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza, commenting on the award granted to the Treasurer of Michoacan Humberto Suárez.
This morning Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Mission to Mexico Stephen Kelly presented a certificate of recognition to State Treasurer of Michoacán Humberto Suárez, who is also the Coordinator of the National Commission for Fiscal Authorities. Suarez was recognized for his leading financial management efforts that have attained real results under the U.S. - Mexico Partnership for Prosperity initiative launched by Presidents Bush and Fox in 2001.
“The two Presidents had a bold objective: to increase public-private alliances that could spark broad-based economic growth and benefit in Mexico, and work toward a more competitive North America,” said Mr. Kelly.
Under Suárez’s leadership, and applying some technical cooperation from the Embassy’s USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) office, Michoacán strengthened its overall credit quality. In late 2003, Michoacán negotiated a $150 million dollar loan that set a new lower interest rate benchmark for Mexico.
Arizona State Treasurer David Petersen, Michoacán Governor Lázaro Cárdenas Batel, dozens of Michoacán legislators, and representatives of state financial institutions attended the event at the Club de Banqueros.
“I’m very proud to inaugurate this new speakers’ series and to honor today Humberto Suárez, one of Mexico’s outstanding public servants in state finance,” said Mr. Kelly. “His leadership and innovative approach in the area of public finance have made Michoacán a leading state in this area.”
Today’s event was the first in a new series of Public Finance Speakers breakfasts for Mexico’s state treasurers sponsored by the National Commission for Fiscal Authorities and the U.S. government. Future monthly meetings, which provide a forum for information exchange and peer networking, will feature U.S., Canadian and Mexican state treasury officials.
Under the Partnership for Prosperity initiative, public and private sectors of both countries are engaged in joint work promoting such key themes as access to financial services, rural and workforce development, small and medium enterprises, and competitiveness.
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