WATCH: Mexican Delegation Highlights Investment Opportunities in Illinois

Civic and business leaders from Mexico and Illinois met in Chicago under shared goal toenhance bilateral collaboration

A delegation of prominent Mexican business and civic leaders recently visited Illinois to create new opportunities for collaboration and investment, building on Team Illinois’ successful trip to Mexico City last year. Led by Illinois EDC board company Cabrera Capital Markets, the U.S.-Mexico Foundation, and Illinois EDC, the groups connected over shared industries of focus, such as quantum computing, and cultural ties, such as soccer and food.

Mexico is one of Illinois’ key trading partners, with bilateral trade accounting for over $32 billion in 2024 according to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Beyond the trade numbers, Illinois and Mexico share a deep cultural bond, with Illinois having one of the U.S.’ largest Mexican-born populations.

David Garza Herrera, a member of the delegation and EVP of corporate affairs of Xignux, met with Univision’s Alex Hernandez about how the trip reinforced Mexico-Illinois relations and his optimism for future growth in Illinois. A global leader in the energy and food industries, Monterrey-based Xignux manufactures electric wire and cable at its plant in LaSalle.

“We want to keep growing. We see a great market opportunity in the whole Midwest region, which Chicago is the center of,” said Garza Herrera.

FULL ENGLISH TRANSCRIPT

Transcript has been lightly edited for fluency; emphasis added by Illinois EDC 

Hernandez: “This week, a delegation of Mexican business leaders is in Chicago as guests of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. This is part of ongoing efforts to generate more investment opportunities for the state.”

Hernandez: “To learn more about this meeting, I had the opportunity to speak this Tuesday with David Garza, a member of the executive board of Xignux, a Mexican company in the industrial products sector. Here is what he told me about his visit to the state.”

Hernandez: “David Garza, thank you for joining us.”

Garza Herrera: “It’s a pleasure and thank you for having me.”

Hernandez: “It’s great to have you back with us.”

Garza Herrera: “Likewise.”

Hernandez: “David, last year a delegation of Illinois officials and executives visited Mexico to begin this bilateral relationship, and now you are visiting our state. Why do you think it is important to establish this commercial link between Mexico and Illinois?”

Garza Herrera: “I was able to participate in the mission trip to Mexico City. I am from Monterrey, but I was able to be in Mexico City with the delegation. We have had a factory in La Salle [Illinois] for about six to seven years. I was invited for the same reason; I have a factory here. They contacted me and I was able to participate. Since then, we have been in touch with the state’s government, receiving good advice from them on how to establish ourselves here and how to grow.”

Hernandez: “What topics are being discussed this week at the forum, David?”

Garza Herrera: “Mainly collaboration—what do we, the businesspeople, whether in Mexico or United States, need to do for the State of Illinois and Mexico to keep collaborating and growing.

There have been panels and we still have two left, but I am happy and appreciative for the invitation to continue participating. And also, the follow-up is very important because oftentimes there is failure to follow up with some of these other mission trips. In this case, the state of Illinois has been very, very persistent and has followed up and it has been great.”

Hernandez: “In particular, what opportunities do you see available in the state of Illinois?”

Garza Herrera: “We are in the electrical industry. We manufacture electrical wires and cables. And we see throughout the entire country and primarily here, we see the need for growth, electrical infrastructure, the growth in the economy, and the ‘electrification’ of things. It’s some of the trends and opportunities we are seeing in the products we make since 35 years ago when we started to export from Mexico.

Like I mentioned earlier, it’s been eight years since we opened our factory here in Illinois. I was able to acquire it from a small manufacturer that decided to sell his operation. It was our decision to enter and have our footprint in the manufacturing industry here in the United States.”

Hernandez: “We are limited in time, but I would like to end on that note: What are the next steps for this bilateral relationship?”

Garza Herrera: “Well we are very happy. We want to keep growing. We see a great market opportunity in the whole Midwest region, which Chicago is the center of.  And we believe there will be more of these opportunities, and we have worked closely with the government to continue investing in the state. We are very close to bringing some new investments and keep growing our factory here in La Salle.”

Hernandez: “Thank you.”

Garza Herrera: “Thank you very much.”