Brussels, 16/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - Industry Commissioner Antonio Tajani has signed a number of industrial cooperation agreements between the EU and the United States, Mexico and Colombia.
As part of the “missions for growth” series of foreign visits which began in Brazil at the end of 2011, Tajani, accompanied by representatives of entrepreneurs and European small businesses, has already signed some - and, later this week, will sign further - industrial cooperation agreements with the United States, Mexico and Colombia.
After visiting the United States on 14 May, where he signed three agreements with the US authorities on space, SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and toys, Tajani signed industrial cooperation agreements in the fields of space and SMEs and an agreement on a policy dialogue on raw materials with Mexican authorities on 15 May.
When in Bogota on the last stage of his trip on 16-17 May, Tajani is due to sign similar deals with the Colombia authorities. Several letters of intent on improving industrial cooperation, promoting SMEs, opening policy dialogues on raw materials and space cooperation, and promoting tourism are scheduled to be signed.
Other “missions for growth” are planned for Russia, China, Vietnam and North Africa in the second half of this year and the start of 2013. These visits, which form part of the strategy for improving the EU's competitiveness through greater internationalisation of its industries, seek to enhance bilateral relations with third countries, through greater integration of markets and standards in the areas of industrial innovation, SMEs, raw materials, space and tourism. (EH/transl.rt)