BACKGROUND

The Conference of Governors of the Gulf of Mexico is a forum in which the governors of the eleven states bordering on the Gulf of Mexico concur. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas of the United States of America and Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo of Mexico.

Both the governments and the private sector organizations of those states, concerned about the social and economic development of their communities, as much as for the growth of their infrastructure and their cultural and scientific enrichment and acknowledging the potential that the Gulf of Mexico basin offers for the development of these activities, have commited themselves to the task of establishing the necessary works to institute the Conference of Governors of the Gulf of Mexico as an annual event.

During the First Conference, held in the city of Campeche, Campeche, Mexico on may 13th, 1995, the "States of the Gulf of Mexico Accord" was signed, event that gave birth to the States of the Gulf of Mexico Initiative, which constitutes the instrument by which public authorities, entrepreneurs, investors, scientists and citizens of the eleven states will be able to work systematically in projects and proposals that can lead to their sustainable growth. As a result this will increase the welfare and the quality of life of their communities.

The States of the Gulf of Mexico Initiative will hold working sessions every three months alternatively in both countries during which opportunities in investment, foreign trade, infrastructure and communications, tourism, health and ecology, agriculture, forestry, fishery, education and culture will be identified.

Whenever the importance of the topics deserve it, non governmental organizations, civic associations and specialists who can contribute to make use of the comparative advantages of each state, promote the region on an international basis and, thus, transform the enormous potential of the region into realities, will be invited.

The Annual Conference of Governors will aim at having the state executives to know and support the works accomplished in the States of the Gulf of Mexico Initiative, agreeing on whatever is necesary to give the projects that are worth it, an official status and at the same time, make public in their states the results derived from those projects.