Press Release 738
Los Pinos, February 27, 1998

President Zedillo received the Secretary General of the OECD, Donald Johnston

President Ernesto Zedillo received the Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Donald Johnston, at the official residence of Los Pinos. During the meeting, they spoke of the commitment on behalf of OECD members to maintain commercial openness. They also discussed several issues on the national and international agendas.

At the end of the interview, Johnston declared that Mexico has a very strong predicted growth for this year. During a press conference, in the Venustiano Carranza room of the Presidential house, he remarked that our country faces great challenges, and that the members of the OECD consider it extraordinary the way the country has overcome a crisis which seemed extremely difficult.

The Secretary of the international organization which has 29 of the most industrialized nations in the world as members, commented that one of the factors allowing Mexico to face that crisis was the decision not to go back on the liberalization of markets or capital.

In referring to progress in the negotiation of the Multilateral Investment Agreement, which will offer the members of OECD protection for investors, a progressive liberalization of investment and the solution of trade controversies, he indicated that the negotiations have made great headway and may soon be concluded.

Also present at the meeting between the Secretary General of the OECD and the President of Mexico were the Secretary of Foreign Relations, Rosario Green; the head of the Treasury and Public Credit, José Angel Gurría; the Executive Director of the Mexican Institute of International Cooperation, Jorge Alberto Lozoya; the Coordinator of Advisors on Economic and Social Policy of the Presidency, Carlos Hurtado, and Mr. Johnston’s Private Secretary, Eric Burgeat.

 

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