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John Daley ReportingToday is May 5th, Cinco De Mayo, a holiday celebrated in Mexico and the US. This year, the illegal immigration issue is fueling much debate in both countries, but another trend is emerging more quietly, the growing ties between the two countries.
Businesses no doubt are increasingly aware of those ties. Beyond the headlines of the illegal immigration debate are growing ties between Utah and Mexico. As KSL-TV first reported last night, Mexican president Vicente Fox is planning to visit Utah this month. This, following Governor Huntsman's trip to Mexico City aimed at fostering trade, educational and cultural ties.
A recent University of Utah study focusing on the Utah-Mexico relationship found Utah had 122 million dollars in exports to Mexico in 2004, and that tourism from Mexico is #2 in the U.S, accounting for roughly 100-thousand visits to Utah last year, giving Utah closer ties with Mexico with nearly any other state in the interior west.
Ken Jameson, Economist, Univ. of Utah: "Utah is among the most integrated, if you will, with Mexico, in terms of immigration, in terms of trade, in terms of all those kinds of relations, with the exception of Colorado. Colorado is much more dynamic and much further along."
The signs are everywhere. A recent study finds Utah has more than 5,000 Hispanic-owned businesses, more than double the number a decade ago.
What's more, KSL is entering in a new association the state's largest Spanish-speaking newspaper, Mundo Hispano, with links between the two on the web.
Sandra Plazas, Owner/Partner, Mundo Hispano: "It's a great opportunity for the community to be able to know what's going on. It's not just about the Hispanic community or the American community. It's bringing us together."
As the newspaper's ads show, many companies in Utah are looking to appeal to Spanish-speaking consumers, including the Salt Lake Bees, which will have player introductions in Spanish, Latin music and fireworks tonight at its first ever Cinco De Mayo night.
Dennis Haslam, President, Larry Miller Sports and Entertainment: "The Salt Lake Bees have been very interested in welcoming Hispanics and Latinos to baseball in Utah, and we're currently involved in an outreach program right now."
By the way, Cinco De Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day; that date is September 16. Cinco De Mayo commemorates a victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
