Governor Matt Blunt travels to Mexico, leading a trade mission to continue progress that will lead to the realization of the proposed KC SmartPort – a Customs Port Facility in Kansas City that would allow U.S. exported goods to be cleared through Kansas City instead of along the U.S./Mexico border. Blunt says U.S. officials appear to be on board with the proposal, and that the next move is up to Mexican government officials, who will have to send a request to the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, stating they want to be able to move forward on this project.
Blunt says it’s not known when that might be done. He adds that while there is no timetable for this project becoming a reality, officials on both sides of the border indicate they believe it will happen. He says Missouri must be persistent in dealing with the new Calderon government in Mexico.
In 2005, the most reent data available, Missouri exported $1.15-Billion in products to Mexico. The SmartPort facility would reduce costs and improve efficiency to move goods out of the U.S. and into Mexico.
Download/Listen: Governor Blunt’s conference call from Mexico (13:00 MP3)
