S6 Ep.9 - Roberto Vazquez, Mexican Consul, Detroit

Welcome to the Michigan Opportunity, an economic development discussion series

featuring candid conversations with business leaders and innovators across

Michigan. You'll hear first-hand accounts on how the state is driving job

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building vibrant communities, and helping to attract and retain one of the

most diverse and talented workforces in the nation. And now your host Ed

Clemente. Hello and welcome to the show. We're fortunate to have a guest we

haven't had on a long time. Roberto Nicholas Vesquez, he's the Council of Mexico

here in Detroit and Roberto, thanks a lot for doing this today. Thank you. Thank

you Ed. Thank you for having me. I'm really happy to be here. Well, I'm fortunate

that I get to see you at a lot of other events too. So I really enjoy meeting

you and being friends with you too. So I think you and your wife, I've met

your wife more and she's the big runner, isn't she? Like a runner? Yes, yes,

yes, he's runner. She runs marathons. And you have two kids too, right? I have

two. I have two kids, yes. Are they here? Are they down in Mexico? No, they are

here. They are here. In Detroit. Okay, good. Oh, yes. Yeah, it's wonderful. So why

don't we talk a little bit about most Americans, probably are not familiar. Like

most people barely know there's an ambassador usually from a country, you

know, but the the councils are very a different role, but they still have a

unique niche. So why don't you kind of talk about a little bit about what the

role is and what you do? Yes, well, the consulates of Mexico are are here in

the United States. We have 53 consulates. We have established with a full

concept of the United States in accordance with the Piana Convention of

1963 and the bilateral convention of consular relations with the United

States. And so we we these consular networks supports works of the

Mexican community living in the United States, providing passports,

civil registry services, not to reacts for for any goods that they have in

Mexico. And it's a it this network is here to meet the needs of the Mexican

National's work in the United States and helping that fulfill their

necessities that they have with Mexico. We have a lot of work here as well

getting into relations with local authorities. We work very close with

federal state and local authorities. And we we do all these duties with the

help of the United States Department of State. So we we provide also a lot

of a lot of services for the Mexican community in the lives here. So they know

how the system of the United States works in health systems in

educational system and all the all this other stuff. Any guidance that they

need. We work we work for that. And one thing that we do not do is getting into

politics. The the consulates we strictly go through consular consular

services and consular relations. And you have a ambassador that really

does more of that more in Washington DC, right? Is that where that person?

Yes, the ambassador of them, the embassy in Washington, it's the one that goes

with the political relationship with the United States. The state-to-state

relationship, the embassy is the one. And in terms of relationship with local

authorities with businesses, that's the consulate that that we see in the

local areas. And you yourself, this isn't your first posting in the US, right?

weren't you in Orlando? Yes, previously it was posted in Orlando. And before that,

I was posted in Dallas. So tell us. Oh, okay. Yes. I have experience being here in

the United States. Yes. However, your kids when you were in Orlando. Oh, they

were they were smell kids. They were they were five five on seven and they really

loved being there. They got a Disney World Universal. They got the chance to be

there. Yes. Oh, wonderful. Yes. I must have been a good post thinking the

weather's a little bad as cold. Yes, yes, it was a good post for the family for

sure. They really like it. Have you ever this is off the record? But have you heard

of Gatorland where the alligators are? Alligators? Have you been there too? No, I didn't

got the chance to visit the the Gatorland. But I know there's this park park in

there that has a little gators. That's actually my favorite thing in Orlando. I've been there

quite a few times. Really? Well, I mean, I love nature. And it's just amazing how big

these those elevators are. But anyway, it's a fun spot. So for example, why don't you

know, now that we're talking a little bit about international things, but just for

to have like multiple consulate, could you said 53 or is it just one for Florida? Like

the different states have like you said 53. So not every state probably has one though.

No, no. For example, we are where the community, the Mexican community needs us. So we have

more in Texas and in the in California. For example, in Texas, we have 11 consulates in

California. We have nine in here in Midwest. We have obviously the biggest one is Chicago.

We have one in Indiana and Milwaukee here in Detroit. So we are we cover all this area,

this consulates in the Midwest. For example, in the consulate of Mexico, Detroit covers

most of Michigan and 33 counties of the north part of Ohio. So this, this consulate

also works with Ohio authorities as well. And I would imagine that's pretty valuable

because of the automotive industry because I know a lot of Ohio has a lot of tier one, tier

two and OEMs down there too, right? Oh, yes, yes. We have we have a lot of relationship

with Ohio. For example, Mexico has a lot of trade with Ohio. We have a consistently

growing relationship with them. For example, with Ohio, trade with Mexico that we have is

bigger than the whole United States trade with Peru. Oh, wow. And that is 20.1 billion dollars

of trade with between Mexico and Ohio. It's huge as well. It's not as big as with Michigan,

with Michigan, the trade we have annually is close to the 90 billion dollars annually

with Michigan. Oh, wow. That is huge. That is even larger is even more than the cold United

States trade with Brazil, for example. So it is it is it is a huge relationship. It is

Michigan is a third trade partner after after Texas and after California. So it is it is

really important for us the relationship with Michigan and actually the trade with with

Michigan has been increasing. Last last day that we have is in 2024. The overall growth

exports from Michigan to Mexico grew 15% in one. Oh, wow. And this this trade it's a lot of for

example, the one that lead the most is the finished and coded textile fabrics. It jumped 145%.

And the medical equipment it jumped 92%. The bakery and tortilla products from Michigan to

Mexico jumped 128%. And the communication equipment jumped 60%. Just in 2024. And and this

this trade is covers around 39% of the whole trade of Michigan with the world,

does it with Mexico. So that is that is with the importance of Mexico

partnership with with Michigan. Yeah, and it also shows you like any healthy country. You don't

want to be like a mono sort of economy, you know, where you're just oil or you're just

just maybe limited manufacturer or just agriculture or something. I think both Mexico and the

United States have huge and I think Mexico has been growing more of a variety of different

kind of products they make and ship and import and all that, right. Of course, of course. And

we what we what we said is that for Mexico for the United States, Mexico is one of the most

significant trading partners more than any of the country. More than even that China and or

neighbors in Canada, Mexico buys 16% of the total UX exports while China buys 7%. Mexico supplies

15.5% of UX imports compared to 13.5% from China. Overall, Mexico accounts for nearly 16%

of all US international trade while China represents 11%. So Mexico is a really important

partner and it's very different. But that is not only about numbers, it's how it how Mexico

trades with the United States. That it's really different. Mexico and exports to the United States,

for example, content 10 times more US value added that the Chinese exports on average 40% of what

Mexico exports to the United States is US made when Mexico exports US exports as well. United

States exports as well. So that is really important and what is the that is one key difference.

This is not outsourcing. This is not competition. This is what we call is a co-production

or economists compliment each other. We are partners in this. This is core of our relationship with

deeply integrated value chains. We build this over decades and it's extremely difficult to

replicate any other part of the world. I think this is why this relationship must be taken care of

and it has to prevail into the future and working together. We know we have really good

relationship with the United States. I was mentioning before that the relationship with

Mexico, United States and Mexico currently it's a really good one. I was mentioning that our

president President Trump and President Shambal have talked already 12 times by Wow in this one

year that the current Trump administration. So they have talked at least once a month. The

conversations and the interaction between our countries has continued at the highest level.

I will continue to work for the benefit of both of us of the United States and Mexico. I think

you're listening to the Michigan opportunity featuring candid conversations with Michigan

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Listen to more episodes at michiganbusiness.org forward slash podcast or download the Michigan

opportunity through your preferred podcast platform. Hello and welcome back. We're fortunate

again to have Roberto Nicholas Vesquez is the council of Mexico here in Detroit. He's been given

us some really interesting facts. You know another thing I don't think Americans always understand too

is that Mexico is a young country too. I mean your demographics are going to be a growing middle class

for the near future too. So that relationship might even get bigger for both of us right in the

near future. Yes and the current government in Mexico is doing really good efforts to

diminish the poverty in Mexico. So the middle class is growing in Mexico. Mexico is becoming a

more reliable partner and more reliable market for the US and for products doing in North America.

So I think we have a lot of a lot of things that we have to consider

into the future for the benefit of both countries. Yeah and this is like I didn't ask you this ahead

of time but you you also worked in Mexico City. You were born in Nadeca Poco. Was that

yes. Oh was that Poco? Okay. I couldn't remember. And is that where your wife is from too?

Or did you meet somebody? No my wife is from Mexico City. So you guys met when you were living

there right? Yes yes. So did you ever meet the president? Shank bomb? We had the opportunity to

be with her this January in in in her offices and the national palace in Mexico. We have a meeting

with all the ambassadors and consuls and see explain her point of view of what she wants to do

with the country and to convey the messages of her government. So yes I have been

with her and I think she's a wonderful leader and she's taking taking Mexico to the next level.

Well I know she did a nice job when she was the mayor too of Mexico City which is at one point

I don't know if it is today but it was the biggest city in the world at one point and I don't

know if it's still I don't think it is anymore. I think Tokyo or somebody else is bigger now. But

but it's a big city and she did a great job because I mean I've been to Mexico City a couple

of different times and it's just one of the in fact you guys are even having problems because I think

a lot of Americans are moving there and they were like young people like like and they were

yeah I remember reading an article about it once that so many Americans were moving down there

but young people because there's some really nice sections they wanted to live it down there.

Yes and she was she was first mayor after that she was a mayor of a small city between the huge

Mexico City then she was the mayor of the big city and and currently as president she has that

feeling what the people need so she has that feeling this close to the people and what

they need and she has instructed us to in the consulate to convey that message as well

with the people being close to the people be attentive at what they what they need and how

the government of Mexico can help and here particularly particularly in Michigan the need is

is the everything associated with the automotive industry I I mentioned the the new big jumps in trade

with Michigan but the big chunk of this 90 billion dollars is the automotive industry it's the

things that we trade with with Michigan in motor vehicles motor motor vehicle parts electrical

equipment and components as well that is something that Michigan imports from Mexico and that as well

something that Michigan exports to Mexico like motor vehicle parts electrical components plastic

products and resins and any other new products that I mentioned before so this this trade is

something that we have to be very close and very attentive to health to the to the people that

trade with Mexico for example as well we have a really huge investments of Mexico here in Michigan

for example the trade with this trade with Mexico has brought companies like Seymakes, Alpha,

Metalsa, Tremeg, Racini who had huge operations here and they have plans and they also

have a really good interaction with the communities where they are there this this is part of the

trade that we have with Mexico and this trade supports over 136,000 jobs in Michigan so I think

this is really important and that we are close to these companies to be successful as well

yeah in fact my cousin used to work a lot when he was working for I think it was Magga it's

Magga it's the Canadian automotive tier one company but I think he was down in

down in Hermesillo a lot is that yeah isn't that like a lot of automotive companies in that area too

or no yes and we have we have in in the Mosilla we have huge

center of automotive companies in Tihuahua in Guanajuato we have all around Mexico a lot of

companies that they have their head North American headquarters here in Michigan and they have

operations in Mexico as well so these companies as well have our part of this trade that we have

yeah and a mutual friend of ours Deanna Piaz who's been on the podcast she does a lot with Mexico

along with a lot of other countries but she's from Mexico herself originally and I think you work

with her quite a bit on electrification kind of things right yes and she has done a wonderful

job with Tihuahua in helping them to map some really good plan for the electricity

certification in in Tihuahua Tihuahua city and in Tihuahua state so they have really good

opportunities they are exploring them and they are growing so that is really important yeah she

and she's with she's housed at the University of Michigan but she's is with the Davidson

institute I think yes yeah okay yes and you know and another thing too I want to mention

maybe some more fun things a little bit but you know growing up where I've grown up I grew up kind

of in southwest Detroit you know when our family first moved to the country kind of and so we're

familiar too with the strong you know there's always been in Michigan like we came over from Italy

right but the people from Mexico were here way before the Italians were because they've been here

a long time and it's still a pretty strong community in this area is that like a lot of the work

you do with them yes that community the Mexican community here arrived in 1920s the first

migration that came here came to work in the in the bead fields oh yeah yeah and remember the

bead it was used for making sugar and and and a lot of people came here for that then there was

the opportunity to get employed in the in the railroads the railroads that were doing from Detroit

to to Grand Rapids and to Canada so a lot of people came as well after that and the people that

that stayed so opportunities in the automotive industry so the consular of Mexico had to follow

this this huge community and around 1920 1925 1920 the consulate open here in Detroit so

this consulate is one of the oldest consulate of Mexico in the United States it has more than

a hundred a hundred and five years presence here in Michigan so we have we have a lot and in these

in these years we have a build a really strong relationship with Michigan and that that is

that is something that we can see today with the numbers yeah and and in fact obviously

the and many people know this like but you know with Diego Rivera you know living here to do those

paintings I mean I mean we brought in his name was it was it sands but he was head of the national

parks and he was Hispanic too and he was US national parks but he came and he saw that mural and

that was the one thing he wanted to see in Detroit more than anything and it's it's a really rich

history and I've been to the murals in the what is it that's just so so she milked but what is

the big square where it's at your US power the where the main government is in Mexico city there's

a bunch of Diego Rivera murals there too I've seen them both there are two there are two beautiful

buildings in Mexico that have Diego Rivera frescoes one is the national palace in central Mexico

and the other is the headquarters of our secretary of education those those frescoes there are

amazing as well and and the work that Diego Rivera made here is also really good the the

work that the the Chinese theater of arts has done in in ways of conservation has been amazing

and it's really incredible come and see the work of Diego Rivera and the Detroit

theater of arts and it's part of the work of a Mexican artist is part of the cultural heritage of

Detroit and Michigan as a whole that's beautiful well and and top of it like it's hard to go

through any part of like Southwest Detroit without seeing a picture of his wife uh really Caleb

right yes yeah every a color is it's an icon oh oh of the arts and it has been amazing

yeah um and I mean in fact I was with you when they did the Michigan Historical

Marker for the Deano music uh right there in the Plaza right there in Southwest Detroit with the

Ray Luzano yeah and uh yeah what a that was a nice event that was um you know my my in fact

it's funny I my my brother-in-law was uh Maximilian Garcia but but like he used to go listen to

the piano music all the time when you know even from down river there were quite a few bars there

you know with this with these vibrant community here uh that came um first for the beat

for the beat camps in uh the railroad then the automotive industry uh they were people that uh

they had certain needs of entertainment so the the Tejano saw the opportunity to bring their music

here and they were extremely successful there a lot of people here uh joined them not only

listened to them so the a lot of musicians uh Detroit has a lot of rich cultural musicians uh

also came from here to the Tejano music and it was amazing the Tejano uh work and uh the Tejano

heritage that they lived here in Michigan also it's very significant yeah I recommend to anybody

who hasn't done this but inside where the Secretary of State's offices and that building

is a really beautiful mural in there too that shows a lot of the performers actually from

Tejano music and some famous artist I believe from Mexico as well but also from this area but

it's a nice little mural inside the building that was done more recently actually it's pretty new

and uh i've met quite a few of the muralists that still paint in the area actually because if you go

through southwest Detroit there's probably a hundred murals you could just do a walking tour just to

look at all the nice modern you know paint yes yeah one of the new muralist is as well from

Mexican heritage uh Elton Mondroi is the one who painted uh that mural that you just mentioned uh oh

really okay yeah and it's and it's beautiful and it has a lot of murals around mexican town uh

he has been designated with the kresky uh award uh the kresky foundation award and it's amazing

an amazing guy so if you have the opportunity to look at the murals of Elton Mondroi you

will you will have a great time yeah no i i've just really been fortunate like i said and of course i

love the food um which is goes without saying uh but um i had a we're getting near the end but i

just wanted to make sure i plugged how much i liked Mexico in my life too i mean of all the country

that i've been to i've been there more than i've been to canada almost i think and but i just

really i'm kind of a nut for pre-Columbian you know so i i think i told you last time we're on

there but uh i think i've been to like 50 or 45 different uh Mayan and uh Aztec and

Totec and Olmex sites all throughout uh Mexico it's such it's got the richest heritage really in the

even before the you know the european showed up it was it's an old community i mean i don't think

people realize how like it's 2,000 years old you know a lot of it i think right right right yeah

and it's just so nice i just i think it's anyone who doesn't go down and look at all the different

Mayan runes is crazy they have come to Mexico yeah and i know it's very popular i think that's uh

anywhere learn your content like here yeah well yeah and anywhere in the ukitan almost you know

i'm sure americans are probably the number one tourist most of the time but yes it's just a

beautiful area um anything else you want to cover before we let you go well yeah i want to

convey a final message that in a fragmented uncertain and increasingly competitive global economy

the ux-mexico-economic relationship is not a vulnerability it is an strategic advantage

mexico is leveraged for the united states not a burden uh one that already exists one that

already works and one word protecting deepening and projecting into the future mexico

is part of the solution not the problem yeah let's uh look forward to a long relationship a

fruitful prosperous relationship for both countries that way all right well thanks again

Roberto Nicholas Vesclas is the council of mexico here in Detroit and a nice guy and i

appreciate you doing this today thanks thank you thank you Ed thank you for having me

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