COLUMBIANA COUNTY Local officials accompany Taft to Mexico

THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
SALEM -- Officials with two Salem businesses and the Columbiana County Port Authority are traveling with Gov. Bob Taft on a nine-day trade mission to Mexico.
Officials with Redex Industries and Sekely Industries Inc. and Tracy Drake, the port authority's executive director, are participating in the trip. Overall, officials with 42 Ohio companies and organizations are with the governor in Mexico.
Redex produces Udder Cream; Sekely manufactures stamping dies used to make automotive body panels; and the port authority is an economic development agency.
"Mexico is a very important trading partner to Ohio -- it's one of our top export markets," Taft said. "I'm very optimistic that our trade mission to Mexico will result in many new jobs and business opportunities in Ohio for many years to come."
The delegation left Tuesday for Mexico City, and also will visit the cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey. Taft will meet with Mexican President Vicente Fox and Mexican company officials to encourage Mexican businesses to expand and locate in Ohio, promote Ohio exports to Mexico, and raise the state's profile in Mexico.
Mexico is Ohio's second-largest export market with companies in the state selling more than $2.1 billion in goods and services to the country last year.