Feature Story

March 22, 2001

Cisco recently hosted Vicente Fox, the new President of the United Mexican States, at its world headquarters. As this was President Fox's first official visit to the United States, it was noteworthy that he chose to come to Silicon Valley, and to visit Cisco.

Accompanied by California Governor Gray Davis, President Fox toured Cisco's onsite manufacturing facility with Cisco President and CEO John Chambers and got a demonstration of Cisco's broadband wireless technology. Broadband Internet access, or high-speed access to the Internet, allows robust and productivity-enhancing applications to run at the same time. The demonstration showed how Cisco's Aironet wireless solution enables business travelers to access their private company network while in an airport, for example, increasing productivity time and turning a personal computer into a mobile office - complete with their direct phone line.

Following the tour and demonstration, President Fox, Governor Davis and Chambers met privately.

With Governor Davis, Cisco President and CEO John Chambers later co-hosted a dinner for other Silicon Valley executives from companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Oracle, Yahoo, Intel, IBM, Solectron, Ariba, Microsoft, 3Com and Sun, venture capitalists from Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins, and Mexican and California officials, including San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales. Also in attendance were the heads of telecommunication service providers SBC Communications and Tel-Mex. The dinner was held at San Jose's Tech Museum, designed by noted Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta.

Chambers commented that he was proud to see that the group he was speaking to, including President Fox and Governor Davis, understood the power of the Internet and Education as a vehicle for improving standards of living. "The Internet and education can change everything," said Chambers. "Both of these vital tools can help level the playing field for countries such as Mexico." Chambers went on to say that leaders who understand the importance and power of the Internet and education are taking the first step to success in the 21st Century.

President Fox said he chose to come to Silicon Valley because it is "the heart, the core of the New Economy." Fox said that Silicon Valley and the guests in the room were "shaping the world of the future" so this is where he and Mexico "have to be." He said he wants to build a government that costs less and does more. President Fox also said he would submit a budget to Congress that would call for increased funding for education and technology. Earlier, he announced plans to fully wire Mexico in the next five years - his "e-Mexico" plan.

On trade, he said, "Mexico fortunately enjoys the unique and strategic position in the world as the only country that has the key to the two largest markets in the world." He then referred to trade agreements with the U.S. and Canada through NAFTA as well as Mexico's trade accord with Europe. He ended his comments by saying "we want to be friends and neighbors, but we also want to be partners" with California and the technology executives in the room.

Governor Davis was the host of President Fox for his two-day tour of California. Davis stated that there is "no more important relationship than the one we have with Mexico." He described Mexico and California as "two peoples, one future." Davis noted that he attended President Fox's inauguration and said, "I am told that I am the first California Governor since Earl Warren to have attended a Mexican President's inaugural." Warren was Governor from 1943 to 1953 and later served as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, appointed by President Eisenhower.

Cisco's Government Affairs team coordinated President Fox's and Governor Davis' visit to Cisco. "Cisco was honored to host President Fox," said Laura Ipsen, Cisco's Worldwide Director of Government Affairs. "His focus on broadband deployment as the key to productivity and economic growth will prove him to be a great world leader in this decade."