August 7, 2023: On Thursday, July 27, 2023, leaders across the United States and Mexico participated in a virtual, hybrid live event to discuss the impact of 100,000 Strong in the Americas partnerships. Representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, and Fundación Banorte, as well as from higher education institutions, were among the group, all of whom support academic exchanges between Mexico and the U.S.
The event highlighted the visionary leadership of Fundación Banorte and Fundación Gruma in joining the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, and Partners of the Americas to work together to increase critical access to innovative, inclusive student exchange and training programs.
The collaboration with Fundación Banorte and Fundación Gruma, and the U.S. Embassy in Mexico resulted in 10 new, sustainable 100K Strong partnerships between Mexican and U.S. universities. These partnerships enabled approximately 300 students and faculty to gain technical, linguistic, and cross-cultural skills in the areas of financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, agricultural sustainability, natural resource conservation, and business administration.
Working across public, private, and academic sectors over the last in 10 years, Mexico has become a leading country in the regional 100K Strong education initiative with 130 partnerships between universities and colleges in 29 U.S. states and 23 Mexican, impacting 2,100 students and faculty.
Ambassador Ken Salazar, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, highlighted, “The 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund embodies what we can achieve when our nations work together and invest in the talent and potential of our people through educational exchanges. I acknowledge the Banorte and Gruma Foundations for their commitment to this successful initiative that fosters the leadership and work of our students, professors, and academic institutions to transform our common challenges into shared opportunities. We promote the #Bicentennial200EducationChallenge so students from both countries live the experience of international education and continue building their future and the future of North America.”
Carlos Hank Gonzalez, President of Banorte, said, “Today, as we witness the culmination of three years of collaboration, research, and dedication on topics such as financial and economic inclusion, let’s celebrate the great achievements that have been possible thanks to the joint efforts of all of us. As part of the Bicentennial 200 Challenge for Education, we join this incredible program and are pleased to have contributed together to the commitment of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico to promote education.”
Juan Gonzalez Moreno, President of Gruma, emphasized, “At Gruma, we congratulate ourselves on the achievements of the 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund because it aligns with our company’s vision and commitment to drive research that improves sustainable agriculture and rural development globally, and particularly in the United States. It was also an opportunity to demonstrate that Mexico and the United States work together to create more and better opportunities for our countries, companies, and people.”
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The hemisphere-wide 100,000 Strong in the Americas Initiative between the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Embassies, and Partners of the Americas, along with regional private sector, governments, and higher education institutions, create innovative, inclusive student exchange programs. The 100K Strong Innovation Fund creates inter-regional networks between governments, business, and academia to support this signature hemispheric-wide education initiative to build partnerships, strengthen institutional capacity, and increase access to innovative, inclusive exchange programs for students and faculty of the Americas. As of June 2023, after 34 competitions, the 100K Strong Innovation Fund has awarded 315 grants ($25,000-$45,000 each) to 578 higher education institutions working in teams in 25 countries and 49 U.S. States that have engaged upwards of 9,800 students and faculty. Currently, 4,000+ members have joined the 100K Network, including faculty, administrators, U.S. embassies, and others.
JOIN the 100K Strong Network: www.100kstrongamericas.org
Follow: #100KStrongAmericas
The mission of Partners of the Americas is to connect people and organizations across and within borders to serve and change lives through lasting partnerships. These partnerships create opportunity, foster understanding, and solve real-life problems. Inspired by President Kennedy and founded in 1964, under the Alliance for Progress, Partners is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with international offices in Washington, D.C. Learn more at www.partners.net or via Twitter @partnersamerica.
Grupo Financiero Banorte (GFNorte), led by Carlos Hank Gonzalez, is the largest Mexican financial institution. It offers financial services to individuals and corporations through its banking, brokerage, fund operator, insurance, pensions, leasing and factoring, warehousing, portfolio management, and the remittance company Uniteller. GFNorte also integrates Afore XXI Banorte, the largest Afore in the country by asset management. GFNorte is a public company listed on the main indicator of the Mexican Stock Exchange, and has more than 31,000 employees, 1,159 branches, 10,144 ATMs, 179,989 Point of Sale Terminals, and 19,800 correspondents.
- LinkedIn: Grupo Financiero Banorte
- Twitter: @GFBanorte_mx
- Facebook: Grupo Financiero Banorte
Founded in 1949, GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V. (“GRUMA”) is one of the largest producers of corn flour and tortillas in the world. With leading brands in most of its markets, GRUMA primarily operates in the United States, Mexico, Central America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The company has its corporate offices in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico, and has about 25,800 employees and 74 plants. In 2022, GRUMA achieved net sales of approximately US$5,600 million, of which 75% came from operations outside of Mexico. For more information, please visit www.gruma.com.
Press Contact: Rachel Falek