The Mexican Institute of Executives in Foreign Trade (IMECE) began a new institutional stage with the swearing-in of Christian Basurto as president for the period 2026-2028, who will lead a new Board of Directors with the objective of strengthening training, expanding the participation of its members and consolidating the link with companies and authorities of the sector.
During his inaugural address, Basurto stated that he assumes the responsibility of continuing the work of previous administrations, but also of promoting an evolution in the dynamics of IMECE , in the face of a foreign trade environment marked by greater regulatory demands, technological changes and new ways of doing business.
The new president acknowledged the work of Carlos Novoa, thanking him for delivering a united and solid institution, as well as for his support during his time as vice president.
In that regard, he recalled that IMECE was established on June 10, 1998 , and that, almost three decades after its founding, it has consolidated itself as a community of specialists that has brought together hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of participants in its events, courses, and continuing education activities.
“We have to improve it, we have to make it grow, we have to take it further,” he said.
Training and updating, among the priorities
Basurto highlighted that foreign trade is going through a particularly dynamic stage, in which stricter customs legislation, the annual review of the Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada (USMCA) , the digitization of customs and the use of tools such as artificial intelligence and risk analysis converge.
Added to this is the growth of e-commerce, which poses new challenges for regulation and foreign trade operations.
Given this scenario, he argued that IMECE must stop simply reacting to the situation and adopt a proactive stance, through knowledge generation, continuous training, and greater dialogue with companies, specialists, and authorities.
“We need to train ourselves, anticipate and generate knowledge, provoke conversations and maintain a close relationship with companies and specialists,” he said.
As part of this strategy, he announced changes to the format of IMECE’s monthly breakfast meetings. Starting in January, these meetings will be held regularly on the third Tuesday of each month, following an annual training agenda.
Each session will consist of three components: training on topics relevant to the profession, analysis of current issues in foreign trade, and networking spaces to strengthen collaboration between partners.
In addition, the new council will seek to strengthen the work of the committees, through cross-functional teams that allow for greater collaboration between the different areas of the organization.
Another key focus of the new administration will be to expand IMECE’s territorial presence through the development of regional chapters.
During the presentation of the management team, the continuation of the Bajío chapter project was announced, which will have Querétaro as its starting point, as well as the promotion of a chapter in Nuevo León.
Basurto also called on former presidents to maintain an active participation in IMECE and contribute their experience and knowledge, while urging members to get involved in activities, propose initiatives, and incorporate new members .
In particular, he highlighted the importance of opening up opportunities for young professionals in foreign trade, considering that generational renewal is fundamental to ensuring the continuity and evolution of the organization.
With this new administration, IMECE seeks to consolidate an institution with greater capacity for convening, training and linking, at a time when the transformation of trade and customs rules demands better prepared professionals and organizations capable of anticipating changes.
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