Gov. Martinez at the AGPower groundbreaking, a project in which four companies created 200 new jobs in Roswell, NM. (Photo:\u00a0http:\/\/www.governor.state.nm.us.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe results of Gov. Martinez\u2019s initiatives to spur more cross-border business have been nothing short of spectacular: Exports to Mexico from New Mexico notched an all-time high in 2014 of $1.549 billion, nearly doubling in one year\u2019s time. But the governor made it clear to us that when it comes to building a trade superhighway between NM and Mexico, she\u2019s just getting started.<\/p>\n
Martinez recently met with Mexican President Enrique Pe\u00f1a Nieto to discuss the creation of what she calls the Gateway to America, the first \u201cbi-nation community.\u201d This multi-billion-dollar initiative envisions a 70,000-acre cross-border zone linking Santa Theresa, NM with its sister city on the other side of the border in Mexico. Mexico will build a new rail line that ends in the bi-nation community zone, which lies at the halfway point along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border and is the easternmost land crossing between the two countries.<\/p>\n
New Mexico\u2019s trade success hasn\u2019t been limited to Mexico. Martinez recently announced a record-breaking year of export growth in New Mexico. Total exports of New Mexico products set yet another all-time high in 2014 at $3.8 billion, an increase of more than $1 billion over 2013 figures. The latest data also shows that the mix of goods being exported from NM is greatly diversifying, and the state is also exporting more goods to a wider range of countries.<\/p>\n
For example, exports from NM to Japan grew by more than $30 million in one year (from $41 million in 2013 to $74 million in 2014), a 146.7-percent increase. Exports to South Korea doubled, from $21 million in 2013 to $42 million in 2014. Exports to Saudi Arabia increased five-fold and exports to Ireland doubled.<\/p>\n
Additionally, over the past several years, fabricated metal product exports (which are key to the manufacturing process) have doubled; shipments of aviation equipment and instrumentation have risen by more than $60 million (from $132 million in 2010 to $193 million in 2014); electrical equipment shipments nearly tripled; and shipments of plastics and rubber products (also key to manufacturing) increased from $39 million in 2010 to $94 million in 2014.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve partnered with the U.S. Department of Commerce to increase New Mexico\u2019s global presence and help connect New Mexico businesses with new international markets,\u201d Martinez told BF<\/em>. \u201cWe want everyone to know that we\u2019re here and we\u2019re open for business.\u201d<\/p>\nSTAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE IN WORK TRAINING, WATER RESOURCES<\/h4>\n
While many states are just beginning to address the critical priority of workforce training, New Mexico has been ahead of the curve for years, putting in place innovative and effective training programs and dual-credit curriculum that prepares high school students for high-tech jobs.<\/p>\n
New Mexico has one of the most generous training incentive programs in the country. The Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) funds classroom and on-the-job training for newly-created jobs in expanding or relocating businesses for up to six months. The program reimburses 50-75 percent of employee wages. Custom training at a New Mexico public educational institution may also be covered. Eligibility for JTIP in NM recently was expanded to include the advanced manufacturing sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn New Mexico, we have a very talented and diverse workforce, a substantial portion (of which) is bilingual,\u201d Martinez told BF<\/em>. \u201cOur pipeline includes 70,000 college students. Our workers are younger and better educated than the national average.\u201d<\/p>\nThe governor, by executive order, has brought together a group of public and private sector leaders in the state to develop and execute workforce training plans based on private-sector employment needs. \u201cOur mission is to match New Mexico workers to the jobs that are available today and in the near future, so we need to have a partnership with the businesses who tell us what kind of employees they\u2019re needing,\u201d Martinez said. \u201cWe\u2019ve created a New Mexico Workforce Partnership between the business community and our education system, so the curriculum is matching up with the jobs that are available in our state.\u201d<\/p>\n
The epic drought has been a severe challenge for Western states, forcing California to enact the first mandatory water conservation measures in its history. These severe conservation laws have not been necessary in New Mexico, Martinez told BF, because the state has made innovative management of water resources a top priority for years.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnlike Texas or California, New Mexico measures and meters the water we use. We didn\u2019t enforce any mandatory conservation measures because we didn\u2019t have to,\u201d the governor told us. \u201cWe conserve water by limiting how much we pump out of the ground. Our agricultural community is really a wonderful steward of our water. We changed to drought-resistant crops and irrigation systems which use less water. Our cities have reduced the amount of water they use each year and our water managers have worked hard to ensure that we can meet our obligations to pass on a certain amount of water to other states.\u201d<\/p>\n
To ensure this critical resource keeps flowing, Martinez pushed through $89 million in funding for investments in water infrastructure. Water researchers at New Mexico University and NM\u2019s world-class national labs, including Sandia, are pioneering and commercializing new water-saving technologies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are very, very aware of what could happen if we don\u2019t stay ahead of the game,\u201d Gov. Martinez said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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