Australia's ambassador to Mexico says coming to Mount Isa has reminded him of why he is so proud to represent Australia on the international stage.
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Dr David Engel was in town Thursday and Friday, first to present to business chamber Commerce North West and then to talk to local school students said he was impressed by the city in his short visit.
"When I go back to Mexico, I will think about Mount Isa's energy and diversity, even more than Canberra where I've just come from," Dr Engel said.
"Wondering around this town makes me feel happy to be an Australian ambassador - I loved the fact I met a Nepalese woman here earlier who called me 'darl'."
Dr Engel said Australia's fair go and racial diversity was an example to places like Mexico.
"Fifty person of Australians were either born overseas or had a parent born overseas and the more we pronounce about that with pride will serve us very well," he said.
"It is a way of expressing our values and at the same time making us attractive enough to be able to influence people in support of the interests we also have."
Speaking to the chamber audience Dr Engel said Australian business had an increasing big interest in the Mexican economy and major exports to Mexico included coal, aluminium, meat, ores and concentrates while we imported telecommunications equipment, medical instruments and alcoholic beverages (Australia is one of the world's biggest importers of Corona beer).
Both countries are ratified signatories to the Trans Pacific Partnership which has reduced tariffs between the countries.
Under the agreement the 20 to 25 per cent tariff on beef will be eliminated within 10 years and there is currently an arrangement which allows up to 200,000 tonnes a year tariff free beef imports from non NAFTA countries, with the quota issued on a first-come-first-served basis until December this year.
Dr Engel said they were hoping to extend that arrangement further.
He also said mining services were in demand in Mexico with companies like South32 and BHp looking to bring world class Australian safety and environmental standards to the lax local industry.
"This has tangible benefits and not just for the safety of Mexican workers, but also for their mining towns with their pollution and their bad practices," he said.
Digital services was another growth market with Aussie companies like Flight Centre providing travel services and IFM Investors providing infrastructure through their super funds investments.
Dr Engel said Australia is currently the world's 12th largest economy and Mexico is the 15th though is predicted to be in the top 10 by 2030.
"The key thing about Mexico is its geography and access to markets," he said.
"Mexico has 130 million people and through the North American Free Trade Association has access to almost 500 million people."
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