President-elect Donald Trump promised Americans that he would “build a great wall” and make Mexico pay for this proposed border barricade between the two countries. On Wednesday, a Mexican cement manufacturer says he wants to help Trump build it.
The CEO of Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua (GCC) wants to bid on any contract to build thebarrier to illegal immigration.
Enrique Escalante told Reuters, “We can’t be choosy. We’re an important producer in that area and we have to respect our clients on both sides of the border.”
Despite widespread animus towards Trump from Mexican politicians, Escalante is applauding the recent election results and suggesting that the New York billionaire will be an economic boon to the construction industry because of his promises to invest in industry and infrastructure.
“For the business we’re in, Trump is a candidate that does favor the industry quite a bit,” Escalante said.
GCC is based in a large northern state of Mexico that borders Texas and New Mexico and is a considered a giant in the construction industry, for which it provides building material. Fully 70 per cent of the firm’s sales are in the U.S. and it operates three plants north of the border. It is in the midst of an expansive corporate period with its shares trading at levels not seen since 2008.
In recent weeks, Trump has seemed to be reluctant to talk about the “great wall,” and some are suggesting it might be a fence or even just a metaphor for enhanced border security.
The U.S.-Mexican border spans some 2,000 miles including a large part of the Rio Grande River.