Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is on a four-day trade mission to Mexico this week, said he will be lobbying Mexico’s government to encourage more private development to allow Texas companies to play a bigger role in developing the country’s energy and infrastructure sectors.

The governor’s trip coincides with an annual energy trade mission by private Texas companies, and this year, representatives of about 50 of the state’s energy-related companies will promote the sale of services and products to the country’s energy sector. Among other things, Perry plans to sign a memorandum of understanding on energy issues with governors of three Mexican states, Nuevo Leon, Coahuila and Tamaulipas, and he is expected to meet with Mexican President Vicente Fox on how Texas can help the country’s energy industry.

Growing Mexico’s natural gas production will be at the top of Perry’s list, and he said he wants to encourage Mexico’s officials to push for more outside private investment. The push for private ownership has sparked legislative battles in Mexico, but Perry said that he thinks “Mexican leaders, regardless of which political party they may belong to, will see where it will really help their country to be able to use those natural resources as a source of job creation and wealth for the country.”

Energy infrastructure growth “could be a great economic driver,” Perry said, and could produce a “big win-win” for Mexico and Texas. He said that untapped gas reserves in the Burgos basin of northeastern Mexico offer strong partnership opportunities, adding that several Texas companies are working on ways to help Mexico develop and transport those reserves.

“They have a great need for electricity,” Perry said. “They have a great need for natural gas. That’s the type of win-win for both Texas and for Mexico, and we’ll be talking about how we can successfully go forward with that type of exploration, and Texas companies benefiting.”

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