State of Sinaloa, Mexico

May 19, 2011: Latin Business Association
Signs Strategic Partnership with State of Sinaloa, Mexico

The LBA is once again leading the way to international business on a global scale.
“This is the first of many State partnership signings to be created with Mexico, and the first time that a business organization in the United States has signed an agreement with an entire State in any Country”, stated LBA Chairman/CEO Ruben Guerra.

Using the LBA’s 35 year experience, this historical Partnership will create:

The LBA will open an office in Sinaloa, which will be supported by its Government, and Sinaloa will have a key contact in the LBA office in Los Angeles. The LBA is now in the process of signing similar such partnerships with other states in Mexico, and in Asia.

Cooperation Agreement between the Latin Business Association (LBA) and Sinaloa State Government, through the Foreign Trade Department of the Economic Development Secretary:

Hereafter, the Latin Business Association (La Asociacion de Empresarios Latinos) will be reffered to as the LBA, and the Sinaloa State Government, through the Foreign Trade Department of the Economic Development Secretary, (el Gobierno del Estado de Sinaloa a traves de la Direcion de Comercio Exterior de la Secretaria de Desarrollo Economico) will be reffered to as DCE.

Declarations:

The LBA is a nonprofit association which was founded in the year 1976 and currently is the organization of Latino Business with the largest community of active members in the United States of America. For over 30 years, one of its primary objectives is to generate the appropriate environment for the economic growth its members, through promotion, training, education and the generation of local and international opportunities for commercial and technological trade.

The DCE is the operating arm for foreign trade for the Sinaloa State Government, and manager of the Economic Development Secretary, whose main objective is to generate international trade opportunities, to further the development of both importation and exportation trade opportunities, and channels of commerce which provide the greatest benefit to micro, small, medium and large businesses in Sinaloa and thus, as part of these overall objectives, it seeks to create innovative alliances to build the highest economic growth for both its enterprises, and the state.

As both entities converge in maintaining a commitment to guiding and developing companies within the international framework, sharing vital information, supporting the penetration of global markets and generating logistic strategies that decrease distance, tariff, linguistic and cultural barriers, the signing of this cooperation agreement is promoted.

Purpose of the agreement:

The purpose of this Cooperation Agreement is:

This Cooperation Agreement will promote:

Partnership signed this day, 19th of the month of May, in the year 2011 by:

Lic. Eduardo Ortiz Hernandez

Secretary for Economic Development
Office of the Governor of the State of Sinaloa, Mexico

Ruben Guerra,

Chairman and CEO of the Latin Business Association

SINALOA, MEXICO

Sinaloa, known officially as Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa (Free and Sovereign State of Sinaloa) is one of the 31 states which, with the Distrito Federal (Federal District), comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico.

Located in Northwestern Mexico, Sinaloa is bordered to the north by the state of Sonora, and to the east by Chihuahua and Durango, although separated from them by the Sierra Madre Occidental, and to the south by Nayarit. To the west, Sinaloa occupies a significant portion of the Gulf of California coastline. Altogether, the state covers an area of some 22,153 sq. mi., and includes the islands of Palmito Verde, Palmito de la Virgen, Altamura, Santa Maria, Saliaca, Macapule and San Ignacio.

Sinaloa is divided into 18 municipalities. Its capital city, Culiacan Rosales, with approximately 700,000 inhabitants, serves as the state’s administrational and commercial hub. Its two major seaports, Mazátlan and Topolobampo, help to make Sinaloa a strategic point linking Mexico to the US and Asia. Another important city is Los Mochis.

Sinaloa is Mexico’s most prominent agricultural state, which has recently seen considerable growth, producing such crops as tomatoes, beans, corn, wheat, sorghum, rice, potatoes, soybeans, sugarcane, pumpkin, watermelon and squash, both for local and national consumption. Its high productivity also allows participation in international markets by the exporting of fruit and vegetable products worldwide.

Sinaloa also enjoys a healthy fishing industry, boasting Mexico’s second-largest fishing fleet, and having many canning and frozen food packaging plants. Other important activities include livestock breeding, which produces a wide variety of both meat and dairy products, and commerce and industry.