Date:04/07/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/07/04/stories/2005070401850300.htm

Back Mexico relaxes business visa norms for Indians

Our Bureau

Chennai , July 3

THE Mexican Government has agreed to issue three-year multiple-entry visas to Indian businessmen, Mr Luis Gerardo Hernandez, Commercial and Economic Advisor, Embassy of Mexico, New Delhi, said on Saturday.

This removes a big hurdle in the path of development of growth between the two countries, he said at a seminar on Latin America, organised by the Engineering Export Promotion Council here.

According to Mr R. Viswanathan, Joint Secretary In-charge of Latin America and Caribbean Division, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, the difficulty faced by Indian businessmen in securing visas from Mexico was taken up at a high-level meeting between the India's Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr Rao Inderjit Singh, and the Mexican Interior Minister, in February.

Delivering the keynote address at the seminar, Mr Viswanathan noted that India's trade with Mexico was set to cross the $1-billion mark this year. Last year, the two-way trade amounted to $871 million. However, Mexico being a "trading giant" with imports of $195 billion and exports of $189 billion, the potential for India to increase its trade with the country was huge, he said.

The seminar was organised as a prelude to EEPC's exhibition, Indee-Mexico 2005, to be held in Mexico City between October 12 and 15.