British Ambassador to Mexico Judith Macgregor took time from her busy schedule at the International Film Festival in Guadalajara to detour for lunch and greetings at the Lake Chapala British Society in Ajijic on March 3.
Though she has been posted in Mexico for more than two years, Macgregor said she had been to Guadalajara several times but this was her first opportunity to visit the Lakeside community. The diplomat was met with a full house of enthusiastic British citizens who assembled to greet her at Manix Restaurant.
In her remarks, Macgregor was complimentary about the Lakeside area and about Mexico in general. She expressed her feelings that Mexico is probably one of the best postings anywhere and that she is pleased to be working to increase trade between the United Kingdom and Mexico, considered to be one of the most stable and democratic countries in the world.
{/access}She outlined plans to increase and design new education and exchange programs between the two countries. She pointed out that at this time there are about 2,000 Mexican post-graduate students studying in Great Britain and there is a move on to bring more British post-graduate students to study in Mexico.
“Our two countries have much to offer each other,” said Macgregor. “For instance, the University of Guadalajara is an excellent school but is somewhat lacking in research and development. Whereas that is where many schools in Great Britain excel.”
Though trade between England and Mexico had diminished some years ago, and tourism from the United Kingdom has lagged since the advent of the swine flu epidemic, economic downturn and security questions, interest in visiting and investing in Mexico is currently on the upswing. Travel advisories have been issued regarding security in some areas but travel to Mexico from the United Kingdom is being encouraged. There will soon be increased numbers of British Airways flights coming into Cancun each day, as well as Virgin Airlines flights to other destinations in Mexico, she said.
Due to the increased interest worldwide in the development of Latin America for trade and commerce, the British Embassy in Mexico City is expanding to become the regional center for cultural and business exchange in Central America. Macgregor also encouraged British citizens to register with the British Consulate in Mexico City.
“We’re just now learning about where and how many British Citizens are living in Mexico,” she said.
Included in the ambassador’s entourage were her husband, John Macgregor and Richard Barlow, head of the Political and Economic Section of the British Embassy in Mexico.
To learn more about the British Embassy in Mexico, go to ukinmexico.fco.gov.uk.{/access}