At a time when soaring pollution levels in Indian cities are making headlines, Mexico is offering a helping hand.
Melba Pría, Ambassador of Mexico to India, said on Friday that India and Mexico were working together on issues that included climate change and human rights.
Speaking to mediapersons after inaugurating the Honorary Consulate of Mexico in Bengaluru, the fourth in India apart from the embassy in New Delhi, she said, “Mexico City was once regarded as one of the worst cities in the world for pollution. But now, after 25 years, we are one of the top four countries free of pollution. As India is facing a lot of challenges with pollution, we can share our experiences with what has worked for us in making Mexico pollution free.”
She added that as India is increasingly becoming ‘a country of cities’ with a lot of migration into the cities, Mexico is working on-ground with institutions like the Indian Institute of Science to find solutions to address the issue.
The major challenges while dealing with pollution are cars, fuel, standards of industry and the people, and the modes of transport. “We had three lines of metro then, and we have 18 lines now in Mexico City, which is as big as the NCR (National Capital Region). India needs a systematic change. For example, Delhi has the best fuel in the world, but the cars are not ready for it yet. India manufactures catalytic converters that are good enough to export, but no one in India is using them,” she said.
Business ties
About business ties, she said there are two Mexican companies in Karnataka: Softech, and Cinepolis and Fun Cinemas. “The third company is working to open a theme park for children in Bengaluru. We also have Karnataka-based companies in Mexico, delivering services in Mexico. There are Mexicans living here in Karnataka. Hopefully, we will have a larger role and closer relationship with the institutions we are working with, such as ISRO and IIM,” she said.
The ambassador also said Mexico is the biggest investor from Latin America in India, the largest buyer of Indian cars/automobiles in Latin America, and the third largest seller of crude oil to India.
Tourism
Mexico is trying to increase the number of Indian tourists. “Around 15,000 Indian tourists visited Mexico in 2017, while 50,000 Mexican tourists came to India. This Christmas alone, 1,500 Mexicans are visiting India,” she said.
A visa is a requirement for Indians, though those in possession of a US, Schengen, Canada or Japan visa can visit Mexico. “We are trying to branch out our visa services from New Delhi,” she added.
