DeKALB – NIU President Lisa Freeman, along with Gov. JB Pritzker and a large delegation of business, government and civic leaders, attended a trade mission in Mexico City from March 30 to April 2 to represent NIU economic interests and relations with Mexico.
According to a press release from the Office of the Governor JB Pritzker, the stated goal was to “focus on the importance of deepening economic ties and fostering greater cooperation between the state of Illinois and Mexico.”
Freeman joined the delegation as one of many representatives from higher education along with University of Illinois’ President Timothy Killeen and various presidents of the city colleges of Chicago.
Freeman talked with delegation members about creating internships and scholarships.
“One entrepreneur she spoke with voiced interest in hiring NIU students and is planning a visit to campus. Additionally, Freeman discussed workforce needs with Illinois economic development leaders and the needs of NIU students with Illinois lawmakers,” according to NIU Today.
She highlighted that workforce development and providing education opportunities for students looking to travel between Illinois and Mexico was important.
“With any company looking to relocate to Illinois – be it in manufacturing, technology, agriculture or other industries – workforce characteristics and development are always primary concerns,” Freeman said. “Companies want an educated workforce, education partners who are willing to work with them to customize training programs, and access to faculty at research institutions. It was important to have someone speak directly to the mission of the large number of educational institutions in Illinois.”
Illinois opened an office in Mexico City in 1989 with the goal to expand relations between Illinois and Mexico. The Illinois State Trade and Export Promotion (ISTEP) program, managed by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Office of Trade and Investment, is an initiative to provide Illinois small businesses with financial and technical assistance to increase their exports.
Bilateral trade between Illinois and Mexico exceeded $32 billion in 2024, making Mexico the second largest export market of Illinois behind Canada.
Freeman said that this trade mission was a good opportunity given how rare this kind of meeting is.
“People rarely are together in this type of setting,” Freeman said. “So it was wonderful to talk about NIU students, their talents and their needs and the great return on investment in NIU.”
