Calderon Pushes for Investment in Mexico

Mexican leader hopes to stem tide of immigration to U.S.

The Associated Press

DALLAS. Mexican President Felipe Calderon mae an investment pitch Tuesday to business officials, saying his country has "solid economic fundamentals" an is dealing with transportantion needs and crime.

And while Calderon has criticized U.S. immigration policy, he sai U.S. investment in his country could ease the pressure for Mexicans to move -- legally or otherwise -- to the United States.

"The goal is not to see every year Mexican people trying to cross the border to the United States," Calderon said. "Our goal is to create opportunities for our people in Mexico. That is absolutely possible."

Calderon spoke to about 25 Dallas-area business an civic leaders at a swank downtown hotel.

Calderon sat at the head of a U-shaped set of tables, with a group of Mexican officials to his right, an the Dallas contingent to his left. A slide on a screen at the foot of the room said "Mexico Open for Business."

Introducing the president, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert called for more business and cultural ties between the United States and Mexico.

The event was sponsored by a Mexican government-run group called the Institute for Mexicans Abroad.

Earlier Tuesday, Calderon met with President Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in New Orleans in a show of unity on trade. They rejected the call of Democrats in Congress to scrap or renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Published in The Odessa American, April 23, 2008.