Within the framework of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Singapore , business leaders and authorities from both countries inaugurated the First Mexico-Singapore Business Forum , a meeting that seeks to promote new alliances in manufacturing, technology, logistics, innovation and sustainable development .
Francisco Cervantes, president of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) , emphasized that the meeting comes at a key moment for trade diversification. He noted that Singapore has become Mexico’s second-largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, with annual trade reaching nearly four billion dollars .
“Mexico is a country fully integrated into global trade and a natural partner for Singapore. The quality of Mexican labor, our cultural richness, and our connection to North America make our country an attractive destination for investment,” Cervantes stated.
He noted that the proximity to the United States, with a border of 3,156 kilometers (km) and a daily trade flow of 1,200 million dollars , opens up opportunities for joint projects that take advantage of both the North American and Asian markets.
In his speech, Sergio Contreras , executive president of the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (Comce) , presented an overview of the importance of foreign trade in Mexico , highlighting that it is the 13th largest economy in the world , in addition to ranking tenth as an exporting and importing country , and that foreign trade represents 75% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“Exporting manufactured goods requires very strict standards. Mexico has built a robust and competitive industrial base over decades,” he emphasized.
Contreras highlighted that Singapore is a global leader in competitiveness and innovation , as well as the most important port operator in the world.
“Mexican manufacturing and Singaporean innovation are a natural combination. Together we can lead global markets,” he emphasized.
He also celebrated Singapore’s imminent appointment as the first associate member of the Pacific Alliance , a step that will expand productive integration between Asia and Latin America.
For her part, Yong Hsin Yue , vice president of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) , said that her country’s business community sees Mexico as a strategic partner for expanding in America.
After leading a business mission in Mexico City, he highlighted that the Mexico Plan , promoted by President Claudia Sheinbaum, has given confidence to the Singaporean private sector by defining priority sectors and streamlining administrative processes for investment.
“This forum is more than a symbol. It’s a platform for building the future. We want to foster long-term business relationships, understand local regulations, and adapt solutions to the Mexican market,” he stated.
He also emphasized that Mexico and Singapore are natural gateways to their respective regions, Mexico to America; Singapore to Asia.
In a speech that evoked the history of the Manila Galleon and the circulation of Mexican silver through Asia 500 years ago, Tharman Shanmugaratnam , President of the Republic of Singapore, emphasized that the relationship between the two countries has deep roots that are being revived today in a new economic context .
“Mexico and Singapore believe in being open societies. We know that our well-being is built by connecting with the world,” he stated.
This also comes in the context of the announcement that Singapore will open a resident embassy in Mexico City in 2026 , its first in a Spanish-speaking country and its second in Latin America.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam assured that this will strengthen direct contacts, business alliances, and cooperation.
“The global economic order is uncertain, but opportunities lie in diversification and regional networks. Mexico and Singapore are well-positioned to lead this new reality,” he emphasized.
The shared vision is to build a transpacific economic route , where Mexican manufacturing and Singaporean technology are integrated to access global markets.
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