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Mexico City, April 24, 2007 — “Today, U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson visited Bebidas Sanas, a small juice factory in Mexico City, and spoke to people who have participated firsthand in disproving two long-held, but mistaken, beliefs. The first is that a person needs to be wealthy to create a business. The second is that all jobs are created by large corporations. Neither of these ideas is supported by the facts.
“In reality, in Mexico today, micro, small and medium-sized businesses represent 95% of registered businesses and account for 38% of jobs in the formal sector. The growth of these businesses has been assisted through several programs administered by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the U.S. Embassy.
“For example, the U.S. Embassy’s Micro and Rural Finance Program provides training and technical assistance to Mexican financial institutions (microfinance organizations, credit unions, and banks) interested in providing financial services to businesses and individuals that traditionally have not had access to such opportunities. One of the objectives of this program is that companies, like Bebidas Sanas, have access to adequate credit and financial services that fit their specific needs to be able to grow and create employment.
“Through the promotion of micro, small and medium-sized businesses, Mexico can grow its economy to provide employment for its own people. I believe strongly in this idea and hope that the cooperation that exists today between the Embassy, the Mexican people, and the financial sector will continue until all Mexicans have the opportunity to support their families and pursue their dreams for the future here in Mexico.”
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