JBIC Signs MOU with Mexican State Government
Supporting Overseas Business Deployment of Japanese Mid-Tier Enterprises and SMEs in Partnership with State of Jalisco, Mexico

• Region: Latin America and the Caribbean
• Mid-tier Enterprises and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises(SMEs)

1. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC; Governor, CEO: Hiroshi Watanabe) signed on November 9 a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Jalisco State Government of Mexico, in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Carlos Fernando Almada López, the Mexican Ambassador to Japan, and His Excellency Mr. Aristóteles Sandoval, the Governor of the State of Jalisco. The MOU aims to support the deployment of Japanese mid-tier enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the state.
    
2. The MOU, whose main purpose is to support Japanese mid-tier enterprises and SMEs with whom Japanese financial institutions have business relations, agrees on JBIC acting as an intermediary between the State of Jalisco and Japanese financial institutions, and actively utilizing a Japan desk (a desk providing services exclusively for Japanese companies), which is scheduled to be established by the state. It also agrees on provision of advisory services to mid-tier enterprises and SMEs from both JBIC and the state.^*1
    
3. The capital city of the State of Jalisco, Guadalajara, is Mexico's second largest city and has become known as the "Silicon Valley of Mexico."In recent years, the State of Jalisco has also gained increased attention after a succession of automotive companies expanded into the neighboring states of Aguascalientes and Guanajuato, for its easy access to the two states. The State of Jalisco itself is now focusing on attracting investments from companies in the automotive sector. The conclusion of this MOU thereby supports such business deployment by Japanese mid-tier enterprises and SMEs to the State of Jalisco, and is aimed at contributing to maintaining as well as strengthening the international competitiveness of Japanese industries.
    
4. As Japan's policy-based financial institution, JBIC will continue to support the maintaining and strengthening of the international competitiveness of Japanese industries by developing and enhancing the framework for supporting the overseas business deployment of Japanese mid-tier enterprises and SMEs in regions such as Latin America, in cooperation with Japanese financial institutions, as well as local governments abroad.

Note

1. *1 JBIC concluded the same type of MOU with the State of Aguascalientes in October 2015. Please see Press Release  on October 26, 2015 for further details.