INTERNATIONAL TRADE : Executives’ Mission to Mexico Aims to Open More Doors for O.C. Exports

The U.S. presidential election may have slowed negotiations for a U.S.-Mexico free trade pact, but Orange County executives are moving ahead to strengthen ties with Mexico.

A group of Orange County business leaders, representing a cross-section of the county’s industries, will meet Monday with Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari and other officials. Led by Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach), the delegation will discuss Mexico’s investment climate and trade opportunities.

The three-day trade mission to Mexico City was organized by the Newport Beach consulting firm Elan International.

“The export market represents one of the few growth areas during this recession, and we hope this trip will open more doors for Orange County exports to Mexico,” said Lucia de Garcia, Elan’s president.

The county business leaders include Henry Baray, chief legal officer of the Restaurant Enterprises Group Inc., an operator of restaurants; Brandon Birtcher, managing director of Birtcher Equities, the new project development subsidiary of Birtcher Construction Ltd.; Thomas A. Fuentes, senior vice president of William Frost & Associates, an engineering firm, and Safi U. Qureshey, president and chief executive of computer maker AST Research Inc.

“Mexico has tremendous potential, both in its people and resources. . . . We want to participate in this emerging market,” Qureshey said Wednesday.

“Our computing technology can provide the communications tools to support the automation and infrastructure development going on in Mexico,” he said.