OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Tuesday that a Mexican consulate is scheduled to open in Oklahoma City in 2023. The Consulate of Mexico will provide consular services and assistance to the Mexican community in Oklahoma while promoting economic, educational, cultural, tourism and other relations between Mexican entities and stakeholders in the state.

“I am thankful for the collaboration and shared vision between Oklahoma and Mexico that made this a reality,” Stitt said in a statement Tuesday.

Consul Edurne Pineda has been appointed as Head Consul of the cónsul. Consul Pineda is a Mexican diplomat with a specialization in consular affairs. She has been working on the opening of the Consulate with the expectation to inaugurate its operation with full services by the end of the spring of 2023.

“It has been an honor to work with Governor Stitt to establish the Mexican Consulate in Oklahoma City,” said Pineda. “I am certain that we will be great partners towards forging a better development for the Mexican community in the state and a deeper and stronger relationship between Mexico and Oklahoma.”

Stitt’s Office explained that the Mexican Consulate was brought to Oklahoma due to the efforts of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard, along with the approval of the federal government. Mexican officials and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt previously announced their plans to open a consulate in Oklahoma City in October 2021.

“This is a great announcement for the people of Oklahoma City,” Holt said. “There is a large population of Mexican Americans in our state, with more than 100,000 in Oklahoma City alone. Access to these services is important, and I congratulate the leaders in our Mexican American community who have advocated for this facility for many years.”

Roy Williams, President and CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber said the consulate is also important for the business community.

“Mexico is an important trade partner for our state and the presence of these offices here will support continued growth,” Williams explained.

While the Consulate of Mexico in Oklahoma City opens its operation, the Consulates of Mexico in Little Rock and Kansas will continue to provide consular services to the Mexican community of Oklahoma.

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