From China to Mexico: Chicago’s Global Engagement at Work

In-person convenings matter.

Last week, a Chicago-led delegation traveled to Beijing, Hangzhou, and Hong Kong, engaging directly with business and government leaders at a time of both challenge and opportunity in U.S.–China relations. Organized by WBC board member Pin Ni, President of Wanxiang America and Chairman of the China General Chamber of Commerce Chicago, this trip served as a valuable bridge between the U.S., Chicago, and China. The delegation was led by Kenya K. Merritt, Deputy Mayor, Business, Neighborhood, and Economic Development City of Chicago—alongside business executives, academics, and civic leaders.

As Michael Fassnacht, WBC Board Member, and President of the Chicagoland Region, and Chief Growth Officer of Clayco, noted in his recent Crain’s Op-Ed, these trips reveal perspectives and complexities we can’t capture from headlines alone—offering a deeper understanding of global markets, emerging opportunities, and the relationships that drive long-term growth.

Next week, World Business Chicago builds on that momentum in Mexico City, where WBC board member and CEO & Founder of Cabrera Capital Partners, Martin Cabrera Jr.,will join WBC’s VP of Economic Development Karla Ruth Orozco Toledano, and WBC CEO Phil Clement, will participate in the North Capital Forum, hosted by the US-Mexico Foundation, a three-day gathering of government, business, academic, and civic leaders helping to shape the future of North American collaboration.

Phil will be a featured guest speaker on the panel “How North America’s Ticket of Sports is Shaping Diplomacy & Driving Economies,” drawing on his experience as Global Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Aon, where he helped lead the record-setting sponsorship with Manchester United. Phil will highlight how Chicago is applying those same lessons—balancing short-term wins with long-term impact.

“By making sports, culture, and the arts central to economic growth, Chicago is turning global events—like the Chicago Marathon, NASCAR, NBA Draft, WNBA All-Star Game, and the Presidents Cup in 2026—into engines of opportunity for local businesses, workers, and neighborhoods. Because for us, the game doesn’t end when the final whistle blows—the legacy is the real win.”

Why These Trips Matter: Mexico as a Case Study

International delegations are more than symbolic gestures—they open doors to trade, investment, and shared prosperity. Next week’s North Capital Forum in Mexico City illustrates why showing up matters.

Chicago and Mexico are bound by both commerce and community.

• Illinois exported $13 billion in goods to Mexico—a nearly 40% increase between 2019 and 2024—making Mexico our state’s second-largest export market.
• Imports totaled $19.3 billion, a 52% increase since 2019, positioning Mexico as Illinois’ third-largest source of imports.

These ties aren’t just numbers on a page; they translate into jobs, business opportunities, and deeper regional competitiveness.

Mexico is also a significant investor in Illinois, with companies operating 70 locations statewide and employing more than 2,200 residents. Grupo Bimbo leads the way, employing 1,576 Illinoisans, while Orbia Advance Corporation, Alfa, TELEMARK, and Grupo Verzatec, are also major contributors.

Strengthening our business ties with Mexico, Illinois’ second-largest export market, is a strategic opportunity to drive financial growth, attract capital to Chicago, and create long-term value for businesses and investors on both sides of the border,” said Martin Cabrera Jr., Founder & CEO, Cabrera Capital Markets. “As a Mexican American, I have seen firsthand the resilience, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit that our community brings to the table, enriching the fabric of this city. I have also seen the growth of the U.S. Latino market and understand the key role Mexicans are playing in boosting the economy. Deepening ties between Chicago and Mexico is good business because it will allow us to maximize the burgeoning cross-border opportunities.

That influence is profound: over 580,000 Mexican-Americans call Chicago home, representing nearly 22% of the city’s population. They are essential to our economy, making up 41.7% of construction workers, 36.4% of manufacturing employees, and 32.2% of the agriculture and related workforce in the city.

For more than six decades, Chicago Sister Cities International(CSCI), one of the largest and most active sister city programs in the U.S., has built cross-cultural ties and forged lasting relationships with our international partners – work that is more vital than ever today. An initiative of World Business Chicago, CSCI boasts 28 international sister cities and a group of over 700 volunteer citizen diplomats who serve on each sister city committee.

Among those relationships, Chicago and Mexico City have been sister cities since 1991, sharing a strong and enduring partnership. The Mexico City Committee of CSCI—a dedicated group of Chicago professionals—has championed initiatives spanning culture, education, and commerce both here and abroad.

Looking ahead, the committee is preparing to mark the 35th anniversary of the Chicago–Mexico City sister city relationship in 2026, strengthening the bonds between two world-class cities.

Follow us here on LinkedIn over the next week for photos, updates, and behind-the-scenes reporting from our meetings and engagements in Mexico. These moments capture how Chicago shows up globally—and why that matters for our economy at home.